(On His Flight to the Holy Mountain)
And when he had attained the seventeenth year of his age, his parents began to deliberate that, according to the law, he should be given in marriage. But the God-given and divinely-minded youth continually sought in prayer how and by what means he might flee from the world and be freed from all things for God’s sake. For he had heard of the Holy Mount of Athos, and of the ascetics therein, and of other hermitages. For there came unto his father from all regions those who sought what they needed; and at times he himself sent unto the holy places that alms might be distributed unto those who lived in godliness. For he was a good man, alms-giving and abundant in generosity. And God, who is ready to hearken unto the prayer and desire of His servants, fulfilled also his desire, and stirred him to come unto his parents from the region allotted unto him.
And when they received him with great love, together with the nobles who came with him, and when immeasurable joy and gladness and great feasting were made for the coming of their beloved son, and they rejoiced for many days – behold, as if moved by God, there came unto his parents certain monks from the Holy Mount of Athos, to receive aid for their poverty. And it came to pass that one of them was a Russian by birth. And the divine youth, taking this one aside in secret, questioned him concerning the Holy Mount, having first bound him by an oath that he would reveal his secret to no man. And the monk recounted unto him all in due order concerning the eremitic life: the common life in monasteries, the life of two or three in concord, and the solitary life of those who dwell in silence. And he declared all things unto him in detail; for that monk was not simple, but experienced in that whereof he spaken – nay, one might say, he was sent by God. And as the youth heard of the monastic life, and of their zeal for God and their good labors, fountains of tears poured forth from his eyes like a river. And after a little while, recovering himself, he said unto the elder:
“I perceive, father, that God, who knoweth all things beforehand1 and hath seen the sickness of my heart,2 hath sent thy holiness to comfort me, a sinner. Now is my heart comforted, and my soul rejoiceth with ineffable joy. Now have I understood that for which I have continually longed. Blessed, yea thrice blessed, are they who have been deemed worthy of such a life, free from care and turmoil. What then shall I do, father, that I may flee from this much-troubled life of the world and be made worthy of such an angelic life? For if my parents should give me in marriage, being held fast by love of the flesh, I shall not attain unto such a life. Not even one day would I remain hereafter, lest the sweetness of this world touch me and draw my soul away from such love of the angelic life as thou teachest. I would fain flee, yet I know not the way. And if I should wander afar, my father, who is able, would overtake me and bring me back, and I should cast him into grief and myself into great shame, and yet not attain that which I desire.”
And the elder answered and said unto him:
“Strong is the love of parents, O youth, and the bond of nature unbreakable, and sweet the unity with brethren and life in common. Yet the Master commandeth that even these be lightly esteemed, that one take up his cross and follow after Him with zeal,3 and endure all things, looking unto His suffering for our sake. He commandeth that we indulge not in softness, nor seek bodily rest, but rather cleave unto nakedness and hunger, unto watchfulness and prayer, and give heed unto compunction, tears, sighing, and contrition of heart. For these things are set before God-loving souls as a path that leadeth swiftly unto virtue, and they bring true glory and sure honor.”
And the youth, hearing these words and receiving them into his heart as good soil receiveth seed,4 added weeping unto weeping.
And the elder marveled at his fervent love for God and at the divine fire that so enkindled his soul; and hearing his words full of chastity and compunction, he said unto him:
“I see, child, that thy soul hath entered into the depths of the love of God. Therefore make haste to fulfill thy good desire, lest the sower of evil sow tares in thy heart,5 and, gaining strength, choke thy wheat, that is, thy good thought;6 lest thou fall away from such striving, and being held by love of the flesh and pleasures, as I have said, thou profit nothing, but fall under shame and reproach—like those in the Gospel who, for the sake of a field, yoke of oxen, or a bride, rejected the sweet supper and immortal food, and were justly deemed unworthy of the calling and joy of the heavenly King, Christ.7 But I shall be thy servant in this matter, and in the Lord I shall guide thee unto the Holy Mountain, whither thou desirest to go – only let there be a horse to bear me, that we may flee from thy father.”
And when the youth heard this, he quickly submitted to his will and said:
“I thank Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast confirmed my heart through this stranger!”
And unto the elder he said:
“Blessed art thou of God, father, for thou hast strengthened my soul!”
And being filled with great joy, and delaying not at all, he went in unto his parents, and by stealth obtained leave, asking, according to custom, for prayer and blessing, saying:
“My lords, I am told that in this mountain – naming it – there are many beasts; if I have found favor, you will bless me and permit me to go hunting. And if I be delayed, be not angered, for I have heard that there are many deer there.”
And his father, wishing to please him, said:
“The Lord be with thee, child; may He bless thee and direct thy way.”
And his mother, as every mother, embraced him and kissed him with love, and they sent him away in peace, commanding him to return quickly. For they knew not that he sought not deer, but the Fountain of Life, Christ, that he might quench his soul, burning with the fire of longing for Him.
And to assure them, he sent hunters into the mountain, while he himself, as though prepared for the chase, said:
“I shall await you beneath the mountain until morning.”
And when night had come, and the nobles who rejoiced with him had fallen asleep, he, with a few of his servants who knew his secret, taking God as his guide together with the monk, fled in flight.
And when day had dawned, the nobles began to seek their lord; and behold, nowhere could they see or find him. And they said: “Perchance he mocketh us and hath returned unto his father?” And they sought also the monk who was with him and the rest of his servants; and finding them not, they said:
“What terror hath befallen us?
Whither hath our lord departed?”
And being in perplexity and care, they abandoned the hunt and hastened back unto his father, the autocrat,8 and made known unto him the disappearance of his son.
And when his parents heard this sudden and grievous report concerning their son, they were well-nigh overcome with sorrow.
And coming to themselves, they understood that none other had led him away save that Russian monk, and that he had gone unto the Holy Mountain, for they had long known of his desire to depart thither. And straightway the nobles assembled, and a multitude of people gathered together, saying:
“Let us hear what hath now befallen our lord!”
And all wept and lamented greatly and without consolation: parents for their son, brothers for their brother, servants for their master, crying aloud for comfort in their grief, and falling ever deeper into despair, for the suffering of their lord and the beauty of his youth drove them even unto madness.
But soon the autocrat, his father, arose with his retinue and commanded all to cease from weeping; and giving thanks unto God, he said unto those present and unto the child’s mother:
“Be of good courage; let us not grieve over this! My son shall not perish. God, who granted him unto me beyond hope, shall vouchsafe unto me to behold him again and to be satisfied with his love.”
And straightway he called one of his voivodes9 and said unto him:
“Thou knowest the pain of love for children, and the fire that ever burneth and is never quenched. Therefore, beloved, if ever thou hast received any good from us, now is the time to show thy love. If thou makest haste and overtakest and bringest back my son, and thereby comfortest my heart and deliverest his mother’s soul from death, thou shalt receive many good things, greater than before, and I shall bestow them upon thee, O friend.”
And calling also many noble youths, and encouraging them with like promises, he set them upon powerful horses and sent them with the voivode. And he commanded them to pursue him even unto the inner parts of the Holy Mountain.
And he wrote also a letter unto the eparch10 of Thessalonica, that he should take him even from the Holy Mountain itself and return him unto him, saying:
“If by this, my beloved, thou shalt comfort my heart, thou shalt receive from us many honors and gifts in love; but if thou despisest our request, know that we shall be unto thee not friends, but adversaries.”
And the voivode, having taken the letter and obtained leave, mounted with the nobles upon swift horses, and journeyed day and night as far as they were able, and, having accomplished nothing, came unto the renowned city of Thessalonica, where the voivode was received with honor. And he delivered the letter unto the eparch and declared unto him the sorrow of his lord.
And when the eparch had read the letter, he was greatly grieved, for he bore great love toward him. And having honourably received the voivode and the nobles, he forthwith wrote unto the protos11 of the Holy Mountain, saying:
“Since this matter is not ordinary, I entreat and earnestly beseech thy reverence: do not despise this request. If the son of the great župan, ruler of the Serbs, hath come thither, let him with all haste be returned unto his father, lest his father, through grief for him, turn his love toward us into hatred, and thou shalt bring sorrow upon us all and upon many others.”
And thus he dismissed the voivode, sending with them men to conduct them with honour unto the Holy Mountain, and giving them the written letter.
And when they had entered the Holy Mountain, they inquired concerning him whom they sought, whether he had come thither, describing his youth and the beauty of his countenance. And certain men said unto them:
“He whom ye seek entered but a little while before you into the Russian monastery, and is yet there.”
And hearing this, they hastened swiftly, lest, hearing of them, he should flee, and leaving aside the road unto the protos, they entered into the Russian monastery.
And they beheld him there, walking with unshorn hair and in soft garments; for they had pursued him swiftly, and he had not feared that they would follow him even unto the inner parts of the Holy Mountain. Yet the grief of his parents, together with their power, had wrought even this.
And finding him, they rejoiced with ineffable joy. And entering into the church of Saint Panteleimon, they bowed themselves, and embracing him, they kissed him with tears of love, so that for joy they forgot the great distance and the toil of many days and nights; for they had obtained that which they desired. And they hoped also to receive great gifts and honours from his parents for having pleased them. They thought to bind him, yet feared him as their lord. And setting a guard, they kept him as best they could, that, when they and their horses had rested from their toil, they might set forth with him on the journey.
But the youth marveled that his father had troubled so great a voivode with noble youths on his account, and he was ashamed to look upon the man’s face, for he had labored greatly for his sake in coming into a foreign land. And taking him aside, he said:
“How have ye traversed so great a distance with such speed, and not grown weary at so long a journey and such labour?”
And he told him of the great sorrow of his parents and their unceasing weeping, and also of the letter sent unto the eparch, and of the eparch’s letter unto the protos, and said:
“Men have been sent also to deliver thee unto us and to return thee unto thy lord, thy father.”
And the youth, perceiving the firmness of the man’s resolve, said unto him:
“If thou wilt, beloved, thou couldest leave me in peace; and I know that, being powerful, thou couldest appease my lord father. And I, writing unto him, shall turn him from such a thought—only show me brotherly love and leave me in that for which I have come.”
But he answered:
“Nay, my lord, begin not such petitions unto me, thy servant, for it is not easy for me to do this. For my lord, thy father, trusting in me, sent me for this very purpose. Moreover, had we found thee already in the monastic habit, what excuse should we have had? And since God hath willed that it be as thy parents and thy nobles and thy brethren desire, who am I to think otherwise! Better were it for me not to return at all unto thy father. Therefore I beseech thee, my lord, cast all such thoughts from thy mind and come with us joyfully, that thou mayest quench the flame of thy parents, whose hearts thou hast kindled by thy departure, and likewise of thy brethren and all the nobles. Thou thyself knowest that thou art their hope in God and their consolation. But if thou thinkest otherwise and wilt not come, thou wilt compel me to bind thee. Woe is me – I am ashamed even to say it, yet I fear thy father, and I shall take thee by force. For such command have I received.”
And the youth, seeing the voivode’s inflexibility and his unshaken loyalty unto his lord, and understanding that he would be taken by force, and that none could deliver him, said:
“Let the will of the Lord be done.”12
And rejoicing, he embraced the voivode, assuring him that he would go with him. Yet he called upon God with secret sighs as his helper in distress, and devised a deed both pious and cunning, for he was girded in heart with wisdom, as David says13 and sought how to overthrow the obstacle set before him by those wise and of good soul.
And this was his design:
He entreated the hegumen,14 and commanded that a splendid table be prepared, that he might honor the voivode and the nobles, and that in the morning they should depart. And he disclosed his plan unto the hegumen, asking that the morning songs be begun in the evening,15 and that a great feast be made; and he himself served them with his own hands and entertained them.
And when they had tarried long at the supper, the hegumen commanded that the semantron16 be struck, for it was the day of Sunday. And the hegumen arose, and with him the youth, and they went into the church to prayer. And the voivode also arose with the nobles, for they dared not let him out of their sight. But as the chanting was prolonged, and long readings were appointed, all who had sat together, and the youths who guarded him with the voivode, being weary from the journey and the feast, fell into a deep sleep.
And when he perceived that they slept, the divine youth, watchful of eye, arose, bowed himself before the holy altar, and offered his vows17 unto the Lord; and having received the blessing of the hegumen, he took with him an elder of priestly rank and ascended the great tower of the monastery. And having shut himself in, he gave thanks unto God, saying:
“I will exalt Thee, O Lord,
for Thou hast lifted me up.”18
And the priest read the prayers and tonsured the hair of his head, and clothed him in the garment of the angelic habit, and changed his name from Rastko unto Sava.
And he watered the earth with many tears, offering unto God words of praise, saying:
“Thou hast fulfilled the desire of my heart,”19 so that even the elder was moved to shame at the abundance of his weeping.
And when this had thus been accomplished, and the reading was ended and all had risen, his guards sought their lord, and behold, nowhere could they find him. And searching throughout the church and the monastery, and being troubled, they began to accuse the hegumen and to strike the monks.
But the voivode restrained them and said:
“What injustice and dishonor is this that ye have done unto us, O fathers? We, out of reverence for the habit which ye bear, passed over your offense and were meek and humane toward you. Was it not first that deceiver – worthy of death,” said he, pointing to one, “who came from among you seeking alms, and, despising the alms, stole the son from his father and fled, casting the father and mother into mortal lamentation and us into great toil? And now again, when we have come, ye have hidden our lord from our hands and persist in your own willfulness. What now hath come into your mind – to mock us? Or do ye think that we have labored in vain, seeking the air and not our lord? Now your heads shall fall! Tell us where ye have hidden our lord!”
And when the voivode’s men heard this, being ready for cruelty, they began yet more angrily to beat the monks without mercy.
But he whom they sought, for whose sake so great a tumult had arisen, fearing lest this evil should end in bloodshed, leaned forth from the tower and called unto them in the darkness. And when they heard his voice, they were filled with great joy, and all ran toward the tower, gazing upward, as though the darkness might be lifted, that they might see him and be comforted.
And he spoke, saying unto the voivode:
“Thou art wise, yet thou doest childish things. Having with thee a company of men in a foreign land, thou thinkest highly.”
And unto the noble youths he said:
“Were ye not ashamed of the monastic habit? How feared ye not God? Is it fitting that ye enter a church with weapons and assail such men? What evil have they done unto you? But if it be me whom ye seek—behold, I am here. I am now engaged; in the morning ye shall see me. Only leave these in peace.”
And when they heard this, being seized with fear and shame, they knew not what to answer, and, falling silent, they surrounded the tower and kept watch. And when the day began to dawn, he again leaned forth from the tower and called the voivode and the nobles, and he appeared unto them adorned in the angelic and monastic habit. And when they beheld him thus, they knew not what to do, but, overcome with weeping and lamentation, they fell upon the ground. But he, seeing them in such bitterness of heart, comforted them with many words, saying:
“That which hath befallen me hath so pleased God, who brought me hither from my father, and ye were not able to overtake me; and now He hath delivered me also from your hands. For ye desired to turn me aside from the good and desired path, and to boast of me unto your lord. But my God, in whom I trusted when I departed, was my helper,20 as ye see; and He shall henceforth guide my life according to His will. And I beseech you, my beloved, grieve not for this, neither be cast down, but rather glorify God with me, who hath vouchsafed me this habit, for which I have ever longed. Take my former garments and the hair of my head, and return in peace unto my parents and brethren, that they may believe you that ye found me alive, and by the grace of God a monk. Sava is my name.”
And having said this, he cast down from the tower his garments and the locks of his youthful and pure hair, and moreover he wrote a letter unto his parents, to comfort them, saying:
“Grieve not for me, nor lament me as one dead, but rather pray unto God, I beseech you, that by your prayers I may well finish the course upon which I have set forth.21 And do ye, as far as ye are able, care for your own souls, and seek not again to behold me in your life there. If God so willeth, here upon the Holy Mountain I shall await and behold my lord father, and shall rejoice in his holy and venerable old age, and shall be filled with his sweet and boundless love.”
And having recalled unto them many words of the Gospel concerning righteousness and mercy, truth and judgment, and that which we would not have done unto ourselves we should not do unto others,22 he added also this:
“If any man leave house, or brethren, or wife, or children, or lands, he shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven for ever.”23
And the voivode and the nobles, receiving the garments and the hair and the letter, laid them before them and lamented him as one dead, saying:
“O misfortune from thee, lord. What hast thou done unto us? More bitter art thou unto us now when we have found thee than when thou didst first flee from us!
O finding worse than loss!
O garment of the beloved, thou burning unto those who love him! How shall we bear thee? How shall we deliver thee unto his parents and brethren, like a spear or a sharp sword?
O locks of that beloved head, pressed to the heart and eyes for the consolation of his parents—how shall we deliver you unto them as a noose?
O gift which we bear, full not of joy but of weeping, not of gladness but of lamentation—how shall we carry thee? What reward shall we receive? With what bright garments shall they clothe us, when they themselves are clothed in mourning?
O feast of this night, full of joy and yet of deception as it is said: ‘And cunning and treachery be allowed’ with which Jacob deceived Isaac and stole his blessing!24
O cup which thou didst serve us, lord, filled with the honey of love, yet preparing bitterness for us!
O night wherein we slept—be thou dark, as Job hath said and be not counted as a moonlit night!25
O we, more foolish than the foolish! How did we, having pursued him with great labor over many days, and having taken him into our hands, lose him in a moment?
How were we so senseless?
What sleep of our sins overcame us, that we thus slumbered?
Why bound we him not with bonds, as we were commanded, that we might have been delivered from this mortal grief?
What now shall we do?
How shall we appear before our lord? What stone, what iron nature can bear the weight of such tidings as we bring unto his parents and brethren?”
Thus and many like things they spake, lamenting, and they wept yet long, he above in the tower and they below upon the earth, so that even a stone without feeling might have been moved to pity. And after a while, lifting their eyes unto him and bowing, they gave him farewell, reproaching him gently with tears, saying:
“Farewell, lord, farewell! Be thou enlarged without us; be satisfied, thou hard-hearted and unmerciful one! Wilt thou be received by the Lord? Thou hast deceived thy father and us also – thinkest thou not to fear God?”
And having said these and many other things out of the bitterness of their hearts, and having received from him prayer and blessing, they departed in sorrowful garments. And as they went, they turned back toward the tower with weeping, pausing as long as they were able to behold him.
And thus they returned unto their homes.
But he, descending from the tower, gave thanks unto God and bowed himself before the hegumen and all the brotherhood. And all kissed him as one newly adorned in the angelic habit. And embracing those who had been abused on his account, he began to pray earnestly for those who had wronged them, that they might return home in peace and without malice, saying:
“God is our refuge and strength, a helper in afflictions which have found us.26 For the enemy hoped, through the eager seeking of my parents, to hinder my steps directed toward the Lord, and to separate me from your fellowship in the Lord; but he hath been put to shame and hath not accomplished his purpose, through your prayers unto God and your bodily struggle for my sake.”
And they, hearing his humble and obedient word, full of all wisdom, forgot the bodily wounds which they had suffered, and rejoiced in him as though they had gained a great treasure.
By Teodosije of Hilandar
Translated by Books of Jeremiah
- Reference to First Epistle of John 3:20; Psalms 139:2–4; Book of Daniel 13:42. ↩︎
- Reference to Psalms 13:2. ↩︎
- Reference to Matthew 10:37–38; 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 14:27. ↩︎
- Reference to Matthew 13:8; Mark 4:8; Luke 8:15. ↩︎
- Reference to Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43. ↩︎
- Reference to Matthew 13:7–22. ↩︎
- Reference to Luke 14:16–24. ↩︎
- Tran. note: meaning that there was no other ruler above him or that he was an independent ruler. ↩︎
- Tran. note: “vojvoda/voivoda” is a Slavic term. In Serbian it has multiple meanings, with here meaning a noble, the rank equivalent of a duke. ↩︎
- Tran. note: an eparch is the administrator of a province in the Eastern Roman Empire. ↩︎
- Tran. note: Protepistasos (protos) is the term-limited head of the administration of Mt. Athos monastic community, chosen from one of the most well-regarded monasteries. Their seat is in Karyes. ↩︎
- Reference to Matthew 6:10; 26:42; Luke 22:42. ↩︎
- Reference to Psalms 9:12. ↩︎
- Tran. note: The title of the head of a monastery, abbot. ↩︎
- Tran. note: Athonite tradition has it so that on Saturday nights, a wake is held (a combination of a the evening and morning prayers held together). ↩︎
- Tran. note: a semantron is percussive instrument, wooden or metal, used to summon monks to prayer. ↩︎
- Tran. note: the three monastic vows are: chastity, poverty and obedience. ↩︎
- Reference to Psalms 30:1. ↩︎
- Reference to Psalms 37:4. ↩︎
- Reference to Psalms 18:2. ↩︎
- Referene to Acts 20:24. ↩︎
- Reference to Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31. ↩︎
- Reference to Matthew 19:29. ↩︎
- Reference to Genesis 27. ↩︎
- Reference to Job 3:6. ↩︎
- Reference to Psalms 46:1. ↩︎
