A Celebration of Russian Cuisine… Join us for an afternoon of fun and culture! From 11am to 4pm on Saturday, May 18th, Christ the Savior Orthodox Christian Church is hosting its event, “A Taste of Russia” on the church grounds at 6378 Rte. 152 in Wayne. Anyone (and everyone) interested in experiencing delicious foods prepared according to Russian culinary tradition is invited to attend. Delicious foods such as “shashlyk” (grilled skewered meat) and pelmeni (Russian style ravioli) will be served…

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Preface This is to be the last issue of The Royal Path [the printed version, not the electronic version]. The intention is to conclude this publication with articles that reflect the goals and interests that inspired the previous issues. The Church calendar has been the guiding force of the publication since it is one of the most basic foundations for the whole of the Christian life. The Life of the Church is like a river and the calendar is its…

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The Elders of Optina Monastery     Elder Anthony (March 9, 1795 – August 7, 1865) Commemorated on August 7   Responding to a letter from his older brother who was then at Sarov Monastery, the future Elder Anthony wrote: “One of the books you sent me greatly impressed me, and I want to follow a rule from it, which is: To hold the world in contempt and to seek the heavenly Kingdom is the highest wisdom. By stillness and…

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The Elders of Optina Monastery     Elder Leonid (1768 – October 11, 1841) Commemorated on October 11      Southwest of Moscow, in the city of Karachev was born Leo, Danilevich Nagolkin, the future Elder Leonid. Little is known of his early life except for an incident during which he was carting flax to a neighboring city and was attacked by a wolf. He managed to fight off the wolf with his bare hands but was left lame for…

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The Elders of Optina Monastery   Elder Ambrose (November 23, 1812 – October 10, 1891) Commemorated on October 10      Raised in Tambov province, Alexander Michailovich Grenkov was the sixth of eight children, born in 1812, the year that Napoleon retreated from Russia. He was raised in a very religious family and became a very lively, humorous and sociable young man. He enjoyed society and was captivated by songs and music. A year before finishing his seminary studies, Alexander…

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The Elders of Optina Monastery     Elder Anatole (Zertsalov, the “Older”) (March 6, 1824 – January 25, 1894) Commemorated on January 25   Piety and meekness characterized the family into which Alexis Moiseyevitch Zertsalov the future Elder Anatole was born. Alexis was the son of a deacon and he desired monasticism from a young age. He was generally of poor health, suffered from insomnia and headaches. He graduated from school and went on to work in government service. While…

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The Elders of Optina Monastery     Elder Joseph (November 2, 1837 – May 9, 1911) Commemorated on May 9 Having been born into a pious family, the future Elder Joseph grew up in the fear of God. John Efimovich Litovkin enjoyed reading and being by himself. In his youth he had a vision of the Queen of Heaven and he began to withdraw even more for prayer and privacy. He grew to have a gentle and sensitive soul and…

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