The 1884–1890 letters of the brethren of New Athos Monastery, named after Simon the Canaanean, to Archimandrite Leonid (worldly Lev Kavelin)

Abstract

The Department of Manuscripts of the Russian State Library contains letters of Hegumen Ieron (worldly Ivan Nosov-Vasil’yev), Schemamonk Innokentiy (worldly last name — Sibiryakov) and Iosif the monk, the brethren of New Athos Monastery, named after Simon the Canaanean, to Archimandrite Leonid (worldly Lev Kavelin), Rector of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, a prominent scientist, a prominent scholar of the Russian Orthodox Church, one of the most enlightened priests of the 19th century. In 1885, the book “Abkhazia and New Athos Monastery, Named after Simon the Canaanean, in It” by Archimandrite Leonid was a real event. The published letters were written by the brethren of the monastery, people of different cultural levels; but they are all imbued with a sense of gratitude to the author, who wrote a book about their holy monastery, which they love and care about the improvement of. Hegumen Ieron’s letters contain numerous details about the opening of Pitsunda Monastery as a skete of New Athos Monastery, about the restoration of the ancient Pitsunda temple, about its beautification and the forthcoming consecration. Schemamonk Innokentiy’s letters provide detailed information about the history of the Monastery, as well as some cartographic data needed by Archimandrite Leonid for his book. Monk Iosif ’s letter contains details of the economic life of the monastery.