The Life of Saint Sabbatius the Wonderworker of Solovki
Saint
Sabbatius of Solovki came to the Saint Cyril of White Lake monastery in the
year 1396, where he received the monastic tonsure. He there pursued asceticism
for a long time, unquestioningly fulfilling all obediences. His humility,
gentle love towards the brethren and his strict life distinguished the monk
Sabbatius among his fellow ascetics. He soon became burdened by the attention
and esteem of the brethren and laity coming to him, and having learned that on
Lake Ladoga is the rocky island of Valaam, he decided to settle there.
The
brethren of the Saint Cyril of White Lake monastery were very sad to be parted
from their Elder. At Valaam the worldly fame also began to disquiet the humble
Elder. Then the monk learned that in the north was the uninhabited island of
Solovki, and he began to ask the igumen’s blessing to settle there in solitude.
But the igumen and the brethren did not want to be separated from their holy
Elder.
At the
command of God Saint Sabbatius left the Valaam monastery by night and set off
to the shores of the White Sea. When he learned from the local people that the
island was two days distant, that on it were many lakes and that no one lived
on the island, he was even more eager to settle there. The astonished local
people asked the ascetic, whitened with grey hair, how he would live there and
what he would eat. “My Master,” replied the monk, “gives the fresh strength of
youth to the frail, and nourishes the hungry to satiety.”
For a
certain time Saint Sabbatius remained at the chapel near the mouth of the Vyg
River, in the environs of Soroka. There he encountered Saint Germanus pursuing
asceticism as a hermit, and together they decided to settle upon the island. In
a frail boat, praying to God, the Elders set off upon the harsh sea and after
three days they reached Solovki Island.
The
ascetics settled by the Sekirna hill, where they raised up a cross and built
their cells. In the severe conditions of the north, the Elders hallowed the
unpopulated island by their exploits. Here also the Enemy of mankind,the devil,
tempted the holy Elders. A certain fisherman with his wife, moved with a sense
of envy, came somehow to the island and settled near the ascetics. But the Lord
did not permit the laypeople to remain near the monks. Two youths in bright
garb appeared to the wife of the fisherman and struck her with rods. The
fisherman took fright, quickly gathered his things and hastened to return to
his former place of residence.
Once,
when Saint Germanus had gone for supplies along the Onega River, Saint
Sabbatius, alone and sensing his impending end, turned to God and prayed that
He would grant him to partake of the Holy Mysteries. The monk sailed for two
days to the mainland and at ten versts from the Vyg River encountered the
igumen Nathanael, who had come to the distant settlement to commune a sick
Christian. Igumen Nathanael rejoiced at meeting the monk, fulfilled his wish
and heard the account of his exploits on the island. In parting, they agreed to
meet at the church along the Vyg River.
Entering
the temple, the holy Elder prayerfully gave thanks to God for Communion. He
then enclosed himself in a cell located near the church, and began to prepare
himself for death. During this time the Novgorod merchant John came to shore
and, having venerated the holy icons in church, he went to the holy Elder.
Having received his blessing and guidance, he offered the monk a portion of his
wealth and was saddened when he heard a refusal. To comfort the merchant, Saint
Sabbatius offered to let him stay over until morning, and promised him
prosperity on further journeying. The merchant John, however, hastened to
disembark.
Suddenly
there was an earthquake, and a storm arose on the sea. Taking fright, the
merchant stayed where he was. In the morning when he entered the cell for a
blessing, he saw that the Elder was already dead. He and Igumen Nathanael, who
had just arrived, buried Saint Sabbatius at the chapel and wrote a manuscript
of his Life. This occurred on September 27, 1435. After thirty years, the
relics of Saint Sabbatius were transferred by Saint Zosimas (April 17) and the
brethren of Solovki Island, placing them in the Transfiguration church. In
1566, the relics of Saints Sabbatius and Zosimas were transferred into a
church, named in their honor (August 8).
Source: https://oca.org/saints/lives/2008/09/27/102735-venerable-sabbatius-the-wonderworker-of-solovki
