In Orthodoxy, the loss of loved ones is perceived somewhat differently than among non-church people. No, this does not cancel sorrow and sorrow, but it saves us from a terrible sin - despondency. So, for a believer, death is by no means a fatal and irreparable loss, and therefore all the sorrow of loss for us must be combined with the realization that in the reality created by the Lord, there is no death. On the contrary, this is only the beginning of a new stage of being, the union of our immortal soul with God in eternal life.

Today, January 22, 2018, in the 79th year of his earthly life, Archimandrite Venedikt (Penkov) passed away to the Lord. Good shepherd, preacher and confessor. And, of course, known to millions of Orthodox people, the abbot of the legendary Svyato-Vvedenskaya Kozelskaya Optina Hermitage - one of the main monasteries not only of the blessed Kaluga land, on the territory of which it is located, but of the entire Russian Land. A person who was born in the difficult pre-war years and survived the Great Patriotic War in childhood, and during the years of Khrushchev’s persecution of the Church, made a courageous decision to devote himself to church service.

A tonsurer of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, who gained a wonderful experience of monastic life in, to put it mildly, not the most favorable conditions for the Russian Church, Father Benedict became the second vicar of the Optina Hermitage returned to believers at the turn of 1987-1988. Since 1990, the priest has been reviving this greatest Russian shrine, putting a lot of effort into it and truly his whole soul. It was under him that the monastery of the holy Optina Elders shone again, becoming not only a historical, but a true heir to the spiritual traditions established in the 19th century.

Those who are familiar with the history of Optina Hermitage know very well that many creative people were warmed by the gospel warmth that the Optina Elders radiated. Nikolai Gogol and Fyodor Dostoevsky visited Optina, the famous Slavophile brothers Kireevsky were buried in the holy walls of this monastery, and here in 1891 Konstantin Leontiev, the brightest Russian conservative thinker of the 19th century, took secret monastic tonsure, leaving a lot of warm and deep words:

"There is a Russian spirit here! It smells of Russia" - and in many respects even very old Russia, still successfully defending itself from the new, liberal and cosmopolitan Russia ... "

And Optina Hermitage again became such an "Oasis of Holy Rus'" during the years of the governorship of Archimandrite Venedikt. It was he who did a lot so that representatives of the Russian intellectual community would again come to the monastery as often as possible. And this is one of the most important educational Optina traditions. Thus, in the 19th century, quite a few representatives of the revolutionary-minded liberal intelligentsia, which was emerging in those years, literally "took the path of correction", largely thanks to the instructions of the Optina Elders. In the 21st century, one of the ways to revive Orthodox identity was the creation in the spring of 2006 of the permanent Optina Forum.

"It is a great lie to say that a person who does not bear sorrows on Earth, after death, will fall into the Kingdom of God,"- Archimandrite Benedict emphasized more than once, including in a conversation with the author of these lines, recalling the gospel words of the Savior Himself that "the Kingdom of Heaven is in need", that is, it is obtained with difficulty, with effort, sweat, and sometimes blood. And it is these words that have always been one of the main motives for all the deeds of the newly deceased priest himself.

Of course, it is impossible to describe even a part of what was done by Father Benedict in the format of a small article. But it is enough to come to Optina, even for a short time, to see the scale of what was carried out during the years of his governorship (from the temples of the monastery revived from oblivion to the monastic economy, striking in its scale). And most importantly, everyone who has visited Optina at least once returns from there a spiritually transformed person. Among these people is the governor of the Kaluga region, Anatoly Artamonov, who, in an exclusive commentary to Tsargrad, said such penetrating words about Father Venedikt:

"He was one of the great prayer books of the Orthodox Church. Not only a man enlightened in the field of Orthodox culture, but also a great interlocutor and mentor, but also a true creator. If you remember what Optina Pustyn was like before Archimandrite Benedict became the abbot of this monastery, and look at it now, the result of his righteous labors, the labors of all the brethren that he managed to gather around him, arouses admiration.

The head of the Kaluga region also emphasized that, despite his age, the priest always showed both the monastic brethren and the thousands of guests of Optina Hermitage the image and example of an eternal prayer book and worker:

"It is important that he did not shy away from any work. He always showed the courtyard to everyone who visited the monastery. Always, if it was time for summer work, he invited him to the fields. 800 hectares of land were always in exemplary order, received the highest yields, high milk yields, produced and produce honey, fish."

Anatoly Artamonov, who knew Father Benedict very well, personally mourns this loss, which he shared with the readers of Tsargrad:

“This is a man who will be missed by many, many thousands of people, pilgrims, believers who go to the holy monastery to bow to the relics of the Optina elders. I would like to express my sincere condolences to all the inhabitants of the monastery of Optina Hermitage, to the relatives and friends of Father Benedict, to everyone who knew him "We will all mourn this loss together. I would like to hope that his followers will carry with honor the word of God that he tried to convey to us..."

There is nothing to add. In addition to the words of the prayer for the dead, which are very important for every Christian. The prayer that now, in the days of farewell to Father Benedict, is heard in many churches of the Russian Orthodox Church:

"In blissful dormition, grant eternal rest, O Lord, to your departed servant, the newly-departed Archimandrite Venedikt, and create eternal memory for him!"

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A new book

The publishing house of our monastery published a new book - "The Life of the Hieromartyr Benjamin (Kazan), Metropolitan of Petrograd and Gdov, and others like him who suffered the Monk Martyr Sergius (Shein), Martyrs Yuri Novitsky and John Kovsharov » .

In the new book of the famous Russian hagiographer, Archimandrite Damaskin (Orlovsky), the reader is offered the life of Metropolitan Veniamin (Kazansky) of Petrograd, one of the first holy martyrs, who did not sin in his soul or conscience during the persecution that began and gave his life for Christ and His Church .

H e-for-wai-te about the media, someone needs to be co-paired with every good deed, without which de la we can’t with-not-days of benefit, but pa-che pov-re-dyat, that on many we see the use of full-niv-shim-sya. Ho-tya you pos-ti-tes, ho-tya mo-li-tes or mi-los-you-nu yes-e-te - oops-say-those thoughts-whether that is good-ro de la-e -those, someone is old-ra-et-sya enemy to bring, yes, to beat all the fruits and remove the soul from God.

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Archimandrite Venedikt (Penkov), Viceroy of Optina Pustyn Monastery
June 24, 1939 −† January 22, 2018

In 1956 he graduated from a secondary school in Moscow. In 1958 he graduated from the construction school in Moscow.

Since 1964, he studied at the Moscow Theological Seminary and Academy.

In 1973 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a degree in theology.

In 1968 he was enrolled in the brethren of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra.

In the Lavra, he carried out the obediences of the head of the library, assistant treasurer. He was a famous confessor.

Subsequently, he carried the obedience of the head of the skete of the Chernigov skete.

On August 25, 1969, he was tonsured into the mantle in honor of Ven. Benedict of Nursia (name day March 27).

Awards:

1985 - awarded with a club;

1986 - awarded with a cross with decorations;

1991 - elevated to the rank of archimandrite;

1995 - awarded the right to serve with a baton;

1980 - awarded the medal of St. Sergius of Radonezh 1st degree;

1987 - awarded the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh 3rd degree;

1995 - awarded the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov 2nd degree.

Today, the Orthodox world has suffered an irreparable loss - on the night of January 21-22, Archimandrite Venedikt (Penkov), abbot of the St. Vvedensky stauropegial monastery of Optina Hermitage, reposed untimely.

Archimandrite Venedikt (Penkov), Viceroy of Optina Hermitage

Archimandrite Venedikt (Penkov), the governor of Optina Hermitage, passed away to the Lord, and together with him, as it seems to us now, who often visited the monastery in those unique times, an entire era passed into the past - beautiful, heroic, full of high pathos of creation.

The website of the monastery reports that Archimandrite Venedikt (Penkov) died after a serious illness. On January 9, due to the development of diabetes, his leg was amputated, and on January 20 he fell into a coma.

“With the saints, Christ, give rest to the soul of Your servant, Archimandrite Benedikt, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life,” the Optina Hermitage website says.

Archimandrite Benedict suffered from a serious illness in recent years. At the same time, however, he found the strength to strengthen and support his brothers and laity, showing sincere Christian kindness and care. Until the last days, Father was concerned about the fate of our common Fatherland, did not remain indifferent to what was happening in the Donbass and Ukraine.

On January 9, Archimandrite Venedikt underwent a complex operation on his leg, a week after the operation he was still in intensive care, postoperative complications began. On January 19, the father's health deteriorated sharply, and this night, at the age of 78, he left this mortal world.

Brief biography of the deceased

Archimandrite Venedikt (in the world Vladimir Andreevich Penkov) was born on June 24, 1939 in Moscow.

In 1956 he graduated from a secondary school in Moscow. In 1958 he graduated from the construction school in Moscow.

Since 1964, he studied at the Moscow Theological Seminary and Academy.

In 1968, he was enrolled in the brethren of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra. In the Lavra, he served as the head of the library, assistant treasurer. He was a famous confessor. Subsequently, he carried the obedience of the head of the skete of the Chernigov skete.

On August 25, 1969, he was tonsured into the mantle in honor of Ven. Benedict of Nursia (name day March 27).

On October 8, 1969, he was ordained a hierodeacon, and on October 9, 1972, he was ordained a hieromonk.

In 1973 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a degree in theology.

From January 20, 1991, he performed the obedience of the governor of the resurgent Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage, having been in this obedience for almost thirty years.

It should be noted that Optina Hermitage, in a completely ruined state, was transferred to the Church in 1987. Having accepted the abbotship, Archimandrite Venedikt put great efforts into restoring the glorified monastery, which had survived the abomination of desolation. It was under him that temples, a bell tower, outbuildings were rebuilt in the monastery, the relics of most of the Optina elders were found and glorified, and the monastery again became the center of monastic and pilgrimage life. The abbot's huge loving heart managed to embrace everything...

good shepherd

Awards:

1985 - awarded with club;

1986 - awarded with a cross with decorations;

1991 - elevated to the rank of archimandrite;

1995 - awarded the right to serve with a baton;

1980 - awarded the medal of St. Sergius of Radonezh 1st degree;

1987 - awarded the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh 3rd degree;

1995 - awarded the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov 2nd degree.

This is how Father Benedict will be remembered forever

Optina Putyn

Optina Pustyn is one of the greatest centers of Orthodoxy, a famous male monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Kaluga region. The monastery gained worldwide fame thanks to its famous elders. Episodes in the life of many writers and thinkers of Russia are connected with it. Leo Tolstoy came here shortly before his death, never having managed to reconcile with God. In the summer of 1878, after the death of his son, the monastery was visited by F. M. Dostoevsky. Some scenes from The Brothers Karamazov were inspired by this trip. So, the prototype of Elder Zosima is Elder Ambrose (Rev. Ambrose of Optina, canonized in 1988), who at that time lived in the monastery of Optina Hermitage.

Many well-known personalities came to Optina for appeasement, and many famous personalities visited the monastery: Zhukovsky, Tyutchev, Aksakov, Gogol; Tchaikovsky, Chizhevsky and Solovyov were guests here.

The symbol of Optina is a trumpeting Angel,

On the last journey

The brethren of the monastery, the spiritual children of Father Benedict, as well as numerous pilgrims who were honored to know the father of the governor, deeply mourn his untimely death.

Photo from the archive of Optina Pustyn

Farewell to Archimandrite Venedikt today from 14:00 to 05:00 tomorrow at the courtyard of Optina Hermitage in Moscow at the address: Novoyasenevsky Prospekt, 42. Metro station Novoyasenevskaya.

From January 23, the coffin with the body of Archimandrite Venedikt will be in the Kazan Church of the Optina Pustyn Monastery. Those who wish to say goodbye to the priest will be able to do this until January 24. On the same day, his funeral and burial will be performed.

The author of this publication was lucky to know the priest for many years. We regularly went to the monastery almost from the day it was opened, often worked on obediences, and before our eyes it flourished: the relics of the elders were found, churches were restored. Father Benedict was always in the thick of things, but, despite the enormous workload, he found time for communication, was friendly and attentive to the needs of pilgrims. Let us sigh in prayer, brothers and sisters, for the newly appointed Archimandrite Benedict and be strengthened in the Lord, because there is no death.

On January 22, at the age of 79, after a serious illness, the abbot of the Vvedensky stauropegial monastery of Optina Pustyn, Archimandrite Venedikt (Penkov), passed away to the Lord after a serious illness. He was the creator and guardian of monastic life, as well as a sensitive spiritual father. Here is what the archpastors and pastors who knew him tell about the newly reposed Archimandrite Benedikt.

“Father Benedict, like the Apostle Paul, carried all his children in his heart”

‒ When I came to faith, I first went to the Moscow priests, confessed to them, then went to the Holy Trinity Lavra. I remember going into the Church of St. John the Baptist, and there Fr. Benedict was conducting a general confession. I listened to him and immediately stood in line for him, the line was huge, and I never got to see him the first time. But already purposefully sought to get to this confessor for confession. The next time I come, I listened to a general confession, and then the Lord already vouchsafed me, apparently for my perseverance, to confess personally to the priest.

I reached out to him as to my spiritual father

And then, having visited him for a spiritual conversation, I already understood that his image fell on my heart, I reached out to him, as to my spiritual father. Began to come to him often, addressed with questions.

Batiushka had amazing conversations, and not only with the spiritual children themselves, we also visited him with our parents. And with unbelieving parents! My mother became a believer through communication with him. Of course, the Lord brings to Himself, but before my eyes and from my inner circle He called many through Father Benedict.

My father kept telling me:

Go to Father Kirill, go to Father Naum.

When I ended up at Father Naum's, he asked who I was confessing to. I said.

Father Benedict, like the Apostle Paul, carries all his children in his heart, the elder said then.

All three - fathers Kirill (Pavlov), Naum (Bayborodin) and the newly deceased father Venedikt - left one after another. The Kingdom of heaven!

Lord have mercy. To talk about such things when the whole world is already beginning to decay and perish from Sodom and Gomorrah. And something must be done, at least something, when churches are being destroyed somewhere, when Christians are being destroyed, whatever they may be. Incidentally, 60 Catholic parishes in America converted to Orthodoxy. Does it say nothing?

The question is that something is going on in this whole world. Some kind of work to destroy Christianity, and at least someone is resisting. There was some meeting. There were no dogmatic questions at all. How did they meet there? The question is this - look, all over the world they advertise everywhere when Christians' heads are cut off, thousands of people. Whatever kind of Christian you are, you are a Protestant, but you believe in Christ. By the way, I will say that be careful - sectarians work, although they pretend to be Christians, no one is going to unite with them. We can call the same Catholicism sectarians. It is possible to say something like that in order to resist violence, but to unite - there was no question of this, and it is not worth it.

Do not be embarrassed by this, do not be afraid of anything. The Lord said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." We ourselves have outrages that we ourselves see with our own eyes and do not take special measures. Please tell me, well, what a disgrace - the female staff goes naked in the summer. And talk about some kind of Catholics, when you are worse than any Catholicism. This is Satanism! This is, I say, female staff.

Male staff - fornication is committed, families are dissolved from all this. Yes, family planning - one, two children, enough, enough, otherwise we will die or something will be done. What will it be? Blessing? Or are the Catholics to blame?

Look, to issue such a law in America - same-sex marriage - I don't know, is this in a dream, or what, is it happening? To hear this officially, is the law like this? I don't know where it is, in hell, or what? Where can such a thing be done to openly speak like that? It's the same sign. The Lord in the Gospel says: "Sodom and Gomorrah." Also, he says, remember Lot's wife, who just looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah, and immediately became a pillar of salt.

Listen, naked walks - isn't that Sodom and Gomorrah? What will it be? A pillar of salt in the soul is like a club, completely soulless. He can speak with his tongue, but the curse lies on him. Cursed.

Well, tell me what's left? The only thing that remains is how the Word of God says: "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's pleasure to give you the Kingdom." "Many are called, but few are chosen." Hold on to be in the little flock and pray to the Lord, everyone. To put forward some demands on someone - nothing will come of it. Only prayer can promote one's own, personal, kind, good behavior. Only and only so.

And what to say about this? We met - such a time comes, where will you go? And nowhere to go, you have to meet, it's inevitable. Can you imagine, some kind of Muslim bulldozer drives up and demolishes a Catholic or Orthodox church from the face of the earth. This is true of Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and others. Something must be done! Involuntarily, you will say something like that, hold some kind of meeting.

You live, you have a neighbor nearby, you never have meetings, but there was a common misfortune, a catastrophe - run, meet. It turns out such a picture. Here is what you want.

Everyone should take a closer look at their lives and somehow apply strength. Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is impossible to reach the Kingdom of Heaven without labor, and without illness, and without sorrows. And sickness is needed. Christ suffered and gave the Word of Truth.

By the Word of Truth we are saved. And here it happens so often that many people sit, you ask some word from the Gospel, which, it would seem, if a person reads, he should immediately answer - they are silent. This suggests that somewhere he read the Gospel once, twice, somewhere it is aside. It cannot be assumed otherwise. Lives, lives - nothing. And then the Pope and the Patriarch met - and there were so many questions at once. And the gospel? "It's not necessary, I need to give an answer." When you read the Holy Scriptures, did you look at this matter? Essentially, no.

At present, in which we live, it's terrible, it's a trifling matter - that we met. If people live ugly, it doesn't matter if the Patriarch or the Pope will come. We met there...

I will say frankly: actually, in its entirety, I did not delve into this issue, but according to what is now in the world ... We seem to live quietly and do not notice the terrible terrible danger in which we are. And no one is afraid of anything. They live like it's going to happen. And all of a sudden it happens. And then we will immediately suddenly announce - you are to blame or you are to blame for this and that. How? But like this. I should have thought at the time, but now it's too late.

While there is time here on Earth, all efforts must be used to ensure that life is completely different, new, Christian, real, Orthodox. The only way! If this is not done, there is no need to build illusions. It cannot be otherwise.