The Complete Life of St. Anna (Kashinskaya)
Here is another life that, to my knowledge, has never been translated into English, in full. Due to its length, I will have to post it in a few sections. As with most full-length medieval lives of saints, the examples of Christian virtues are ripe and abundant. This would be particularly edifying for mothers and wives. Enjoy!
Life, Deeds, and Some Miracles of the Holy and Blessed Great Princess Anna of Kashin, the New Wonderworker
When our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, before His voluntary and salvific suffering, sowed the salvific word among those living on earth, He often not only conversed with His divine disciples and apostles but extended His teachings to all people. Encouraging His disciples to preach, He said: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake... And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul" (Matthew 10:16-18, 28). Upon hearing such sweet, heavenly, and salvific teachings, many became martyrs and confessors, multiplying like the stars in the sky, becoming imitators of His divine and salvific sufferings. They courageously endured every kind of torment and ultimately triumphed over the enemy.
He once preached to the people: "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30). And again: "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:38). He taught not only with words but as the God and Lord of all, knowing the thoughts of men and examining hearts and souls. Salvation comes not from merely hearing but from doing His most pure will, and thus one is saved. He also said: "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death" (John 8:51). Many, receiving such salvific words of the Gospel and opening the furrows of their hearts, took up their crosses and followed Christ, wandering in deserts, in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth—fleeing the deceptions of this world. As if they had wings like eagles of the sky, they soared with the lightness of their minds to heaven, for they loved the Lord God with all their hearts and followed Him without turning back, preferring nothing over His love.
Such was the blessed and great princess Anna, about whom we are to tell.
**The Life and Deeds, and Some Miracles of the Holy and Blessed Great Princess Anna of Kashin, the New Wonderworker**
The homeland of this venerable saint is the city of Kashin. She was the daughter of noble and pious parents, from the ranks of illustrious boyars. From a young age, Anna was raised in the fear of the Lord and was taught to observe His most holy commandments. She was also taught the Divine Scriptures and was well instructed in the fear of the Lord and His teachings. She looked upon the beauty of this world as a deception, not turning to the sweetness of food and comfort, but her sustenance was constant prayer and an insatiable striving toward God.
Neither honor nor glory could stop her, for she always endeavored in good deeds out of love for God, to please Him. Placing her hope in His most holy will and finding instruction in the Law of the Lord, she was like a tree planted by streams of water, nourished by the teachings of Divine words. From this, she became accustomed to spiritual joy, often praying to the Lord that He would not deprive her of His Heavenly Mansion but would deal with her according to His most holy will. She gave alms to the poor and needy and, continually flourishing in good deeds in her youth, in honor and glory and great peace, she strove towards Divine works.
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When she reached the age to enter into marriage, she was betrothed to the great prince Michael Yaroslavich, who then ruled in the city of Tver. This blessed prince Michael was also very pious and God-loving, arranging everything with humility, meekness, and benevolence towards the poor and strangers. He later died a martyr’s death, crowned with the wreath of martyrdom by the hand of the Almighty, as will be mentioned later.
He lived in piety and in the Law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night, encouraging others through his deeds to give alms to the poor and needy, strangers and the sick, like the righteous Abraham of old. Like Job, he was patient, being “feet to the lame and eyes to the blind.” He loved the priestly order as servants of God and always spoke of the grace given to them. He greatly revered monks as the closest workers of God, for they do not look at the beauty of this vain age, which is a deception and quickly passes like a shadow; he was not exalted by the nobility and greatness of his power, nor was he proud, as some are who exalt themselves by the greatness of their lineage and, like immortals, boast with arrogance, vanity, haughtiness, and pride, exalting themselves above one another. They do not know how, because of pride, the once-bright morning star fell from the glory of God, became darkness instead of light, and was renamed the devil. The enemy of our souls strongly hinders those who want to be humble and drags them down into the abyss with him, as he led Adam, our forefather, to fall and be expelled from Paradise due to his self-reliance.
And so the blessed and pious Grand Prince Michael and his blessed Grand Princess Anna often reflected, deeply loving humility and holding equal love for all, knowing from the Divine Scriptures how, for the sake of love, the Son of God bowed the heavens and descended to earth, and was incarnate for our salvation from our Most Blessed Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and became perfect God and perfect Man. The Creator and Maker of all creation humbled Himself to the extent of being obedient unto the cross and death. As the apostle says: “He has reconciled us to God and His Father.” And He endured all this, being sinless, to free us from the curse of the law and make us heirs of His Heavenly Kingdom. The blessed one thought to herself, how He descended from such heights and out of great goodness became like us, except for sin, not having a place to lay His head, loving all people. "Should we mortals and perishable beings not also humble ourselves and love everyone for His sake, not only our own and our kin, but even our enemies, according to the word of the Gospel?" she said. "And God will see our humility, and forgive our sins, and make us heirs of His Heavenly Kingdom."
Thus the blessed and pious Prince Michael and his wife, the Grand Princess Anna, often reasoned, always meditating on psalms, and singing spiritual songs, and praying to God to preserve their homeland and their entire realm from the invasion of foreign peoples. And so, the blessed ones, flourishing in good deeds, in meekness and beauty, in humility and benevolence throughout the great Rus’, shone with their lives like two great lights, no less than Abraham, Job, and David, following in everything the examples of their kin who had been lights in Rus’ – the great prince Michael of Chernigov and his grandfather, the great prince Alexander Nevsky.
In time, they had four sons. The first was Prince Dimitri, the second son was Alexander, the third son was Vasily, and the fourth son was Prince Konstantin. They raised them in the fear of the Lord, that they might fear God and do His most holy will. Then the enemy and adversary of our souls, seeing the blessed and great Prince Michael in such glory and honor, esteemed like a king and undefeated in any way, but always victorious, to the point where the devil’s power was utterly destroyed and he was trampled underfoot like a vile bird struck down by God, conceived in his evil cunning to send upon him, as in ancient times upon the righteous Job, his like-minded associates – the prince’s relatives by flesh. And the cunning devil devised some treachery against the blessed Prince Michael, wishing to place an obstacle in his good path, and that of the Grand Princess Anna.
But they sang: “The Lord is our helper and we shall not fear; what can man do to us?” Although the devil raises enmity against the saints, soon his misfortune returns upon his own head. Many envies and conspiracies arose against the blessed ones, and many disputes from their own people came upon the prince and his realm. But the Lord, seeing the blameless life of His servant, granted him great victory over his enemies and over those rising against him, even his own brothers.
The devil, seeing that he could do nothing to the great Prince Michael and that his diabolical power was trampled down, again stirred up enmity fiercer than before. He incited against him the Tatar Khan Uzbek and his advisor, but more so his lawless devotee Kolga. The pious and great Prince Michael, hearing that the lawless khan wanted to capture his realm and shed the innocent blood of Christians, was greatly distressed in soul and bitterly lamented, saying to his wife, the Grand Princess Anna: “O, my lady! I hear the command of the wicked khan and the envy rising against us, for he wants to cause much discord among us and shed the blood of Christ’s flock. But I want, if it is God’s will, to go myself to the Horde to the lawless khan and personally give an answer, and to lay down my soul for the sheep of Christ’s flock, according to Christ’s word.”
Hearing all this, the blessed and great Princess Anna was saddened in her soul and spoke to herself: “What is my pious prince saying—he wants to go to the Horde to the impious king and lay down his life for the sheep of Christ’s flock! Will it be worthy to suffer for the name of Christ as he desires?” And she spoke to him: “O, my dear and beloved great prince Michael, why do you fear the impious king and his lawless command and tremble like a weakling? Do you not have valiant and strong warriors at your side, or thousands upon thousands of brave soldiers surrounding you? Can you not, with such a multitude of fighting men, and above all with God’s help, stand against the lawless king? Did you not receive confirmation of God’s help not long ago, when your brother, the great prince Yuri, came upon you with the accursed barbarian Kavgaid, and how many of those who came against you did you strike down, and God delivered the barbarian into your hands! And now, my pious prince, do you fear the impious king and want to voluntarily surrender to him like a lamb to a ravenous wolf?”
He replied to her: “My lady, I have long desired to suffer for the name of Christ and to lay down my life for the flock entrusted to me, but there has not been such an opportunity. Now, if God wills, I am ready to suffer for Him who suffered for me. And I think it is better for me alone to die for Christ’s flock, than for the blood of many Christians to be shed because of me.”
The blessed Princess Anna, hearing that he truly wanted to suffer for the name of the Lord Jesus, spoke to him gently: “O, my lord, pious prince! Our Lord Jesus Christ knows that we have no wrong before the lawless king. But since the loud-voiced teacher of the universe, the Divine Apostle Paul, writes to Timothy that ‘all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, but evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse,’—and the Son of God Himself, speaking with His disciples, said: ‘If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you,’—and He also said to the Jews: ‘But now you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you,’—by this word of Christ, my lord, if we lived like the ungodly or pleased them, there truly would not be such envy against us, nor would any of your brothers envy our realm. But since the Savior said to His disciples: ‘In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world and its deception. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ And look, my pious and dear prince, how your kinsmen, the blessed princes Boris and Gleb, were killed by their brother Sviatopolk. Also, the blessed great prince Michael of Chernigov and his boyar Theodore suffered much for the faith of Christ from the impious Batu and did not submit to the lawless command but shed their blood for Christ. For this, they were crowned with the martyr’s crown by the hand of the Almighty and were named martyrs of Christ. And if, my lord, pious prince, you go to the lawless king and willingly desire to suffer for the name of the Lord Jesus, when no one is now forcing you to go, then truly you will be blessed in all generations, and your memory will be eternal. Only strive diligently to stand firm in your calling, and the Lord will be your helper.”
The blessed and great prince Michael said to her: “What is sweeter or more beautiful to me than to suffer for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! I trust in His mercies that He will fulfill the desire of my heart.”
Then the blessed one said to him: “I beg you, my lord, pious prince, when you stand before the impious king as a good soldier of Christ, and when they inflict their wicked torments on you, seeking to bend you to their will—then, my lord, do not fear the evils that come upon you. Let neither fire, nor the wheel, nor the sword, nor the axe frighten you. But be patient in your calling, to which you wish to go voluntarily. Let not the greatness of your realm, nor any earthly and perishable thing hinder your righteous intent, for all this shall soon pass. Let not the flattery of your friends weaken your patience, nor let deceitful words and schemes steal your faith in Christ. Completely despise the counsel of the ungodly, but love only Jesus Christ, who loved you from your youth and gave Himself for you. Then I will be blessed among all Russian women because of you.”
Thus spoke the blessed and great Princess Anna to her husband, the pious Prince Michael, for she feared that he might abandon the good struggle to suffer for the name of Christ. When he heard these words, he marveled greatly at her wisdom and her wise counsel; and he praised God, for he received confirmation of God’s help on the desired path to his struggle, as this advice was given through his wife.
See, brothers, and marvel at the wise counsel of the blessed and great Princess Anna. For she did not wish her husband to be glorified for a short time but to be blessed, praised, and glorified by God forever for his good confession. Not like Eve advising Adam to eat from the tree in Paradise, but like Rebekah advising her son Jacob to receive the blessing.
The prince then said to her with a joyful face: “O, my lady, wife Anna! For me, to live is Christ, and to die is to gain His life. And what is sweeter and more beloved than to die for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!” And having said this, he fell silent. Then he called his children and taught them the fear of the Lord and instructed them to imitate his good life in everything. “Obey your mother,” he said, “and look to her, and follow her blameless deeds and many virtues.” Finally, he added: “As you have seen us doing anything, so do likewise, and the God of peace will be with you.”
And dividing his hereditary estate among them, blessing each one with their city, and receiving the blessing of his bishop, the blessed Barsonophius, he went to the Horde, taking with him only his son, Prince Konstantin, so that he might witness his suffering. And all the people, men and women, and children wept greatly. Whoever wishes to know more about this should read the life and sufferings of the blessed and great Prince Michael, how he struggled by his own will for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and how much abuse and humiliation, beatings and afflictions, and various torments and oppressions he endured from the lawless and impious king and his boyars, especially from the accursed and beastly barbarian Kavgaid. In the end, he received a blessed death, being beheaded by the sword. And thus, crowned with the wreath of martyrdom, he ended his life’s glorious struggle and kept his faith, on the 22nd day of November in the year 6827. His most holy body was brought from the Horde to the glorious city of Tver by his son, Prince Dimitri, and was laid with honor, with psalms and singing, and spiritual hymns, and with many tears of all the people in the cathedral and apostolic church, where to this day countless miracles are bestowed upon those who come with faith to his most holy tomb and touch his many-healing relics.
The pious and blessed great Princess Anna, rejoicing in her soul and greatly thanking God that He deemed her husband, the great prince Michael, worthy to suffer for His most holy and fearful name and to meet a blessed end in a good confession, embraced his chest with spiritual tears and spoke to him as if he were alive: “Blessed are you now, my lord, great prince, and truly blessed you shall be from generation to generation, for you suffered for the One who suffered for us. And now you have departed to Christ, who loved you, and there you see His Divine and ineffable glory, and together with the angels, you sing praises to the Most Holy and Life-giving Trinity, the indivisible. Now I pray to you—O, martyr of Christ!—do not leave me to be overwhelmed by the deceptions of this life, but remember me before the throne of Christ our God, so that I may also be made worthy of the Heavenly mansion with the wise virgins, so that the lamp of my soul may not go out from the good struggle. In you, I have now found an intercessor before God for me and a strong prayerful advocate.”
And so, having prayed for a long time and affectionately kissing his most holy body, and instead of various aromas, covering his body with many tears, she returned to her home, praising and thanking Christ our God and His Mother, our Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
What then did the pious princess Anna do? She remained in her home with her son, the pious prince Konstantin Mikhailovich, for this younger son inherited the glorious city of Tver, the paternal estate. Like a loving dove in widowhood, she constantly prayed to God with frequent prayers and many supplications, asking Him not to deprive her of a share among the saints and the inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom. She gave herself to many fasts and abstinence, adorning herself with meekness and humility, feeding the poor, and ordering strangers and the needy to be brought to her house, providing them with sufficient food and clothing, protecting orphans and widows, forbidding oppressors, punishing and teaching them not to wrong the poor and orphans. She spoke thus: the Helper and Defender of orphans and widows is our Heavenly Father, as the prophet says: “The patience of the poor will not perish forever.” And also: “You will be a Helper to the orphan and the needy.” She hated all injustice and eradicated all wickedness. She also taught her beloved son, the pious prince Konstantin, to love the Lord God with all his heart and soul, to always keep Him before him, to observe His holy commandments, to administer righteous judgment, to shun the flattery and deceitful words of nobles, to have equal love for all, and to protect orphans and the needy from their oppressors.
Thus flourishing with such fruits of virtues and pleasing God, the pious and great princess Anna, like the ancient saints, pondered how to renounce the world and serve God alone in silence, and to be insatiably satisfied with His beauty forever, for she said: “I am wounded by His love; and I will run after His love for mankind.” And she spoke to God: “Receive me, Heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, with Your love, and count me among the wise virgins.” And thus, praying to God, she confessed.
After this, the blessed one, reflecting within herself, said: “If I remain in my house in such honor and glory and peace, but more so in troubles and vanity, they will truly separate me from God’s love and will never allow me to converse in silence with God alone in prayer. And what benefit will it be if a person gains the whole world but loses their soul? For even Moses the God-seer would never have been worthy to see God’s glory and receive the law in the burning bush on Mount Sinai if he had not first distanced himself from the glory of being called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Therefore, it is fitting for one who serves God with all diligence to ascend to the height of virtues, to distance oneself from all peace and glory of this world, to dwell in the House of God, and to serve Him in silence. For so the Lord Jesus Christ teaches us, saying: ‘If anyone does not renounce himself—that is, earthly attachment—and take up his cross and follow Me, he cannot be My disciple.’ The holy fathers followed this word, and holy women were zealous, dwelling in deserts, in mountains, in caves, and in the crevices of the earth, which is truly remarkable! They were deprived of daily food and were insulted by demons. As the Divine Apostle Paul says: ‘Of whom the world was not worthy.’ For this, God glorified them in return, for they loved the Lord God with all their heart. What then can this world and its glory, riches, and beauty give me, and the many troubles and disturbances that happen? For it is impossible to look at the sky with one eye and at the earth with the other. All the more, it is impossible and very inconvenient to serve the One God with all the heart amid many troubles. For the temptation of this age darkens the eyes of the soul and distresses the thoughts of the mind, and hinders those who serve God in every virtue. What did Paradise give to our forefather Adam and Eve? For when they saw the beauty of the tree, which was commanded not to be eaten, did not Eve become tempted by the tree’s appearance? Did not Adam become deceived? And they did not only suffer the loss of Paradise but were also separated from God and condemned to death. Will I be stronger than them, being in such honor, when before my eyes will be all the honor and glory of this rule, and I will be esteemed as a queen by the boyars and all the people, and how can I avoid being ensnared in the devil’s traps? For many began to perform virtue in the world, but few were found who kept it to the end. Therefore, the virginal vessel, the beloved disciple of Christ John the Theologian, says: ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world, for all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.’”
And thus reasoning within herself, the blessed and truly pious great Princess Anna soon set about her task, knowing that delay often leads to a change of mind. Then the blessed one renounced the world and was crucified with Christ: she left behind the house and power of this age and chose rather to dwell in the house of God and to join those who bore the burden and heat of the day, than to live in royal palaces and have the glory and power of this fleeting age, which passes away like a shadow. For even Moses the God-seer preferred to suffer with the people of God and bear reproach, like Christ, rather than enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin and live in Pharaoh’s house.
So she went to a convent called Sophia, in which there was a church dedicated to the Wisdom of the Word of God. There she bowed before God, shedding tears of joy, and confessed to God for many hours. She bowed to the ground with great humility at the feet of the nuns who had long been there in asceticism, begging them meekly to be counted among their number. They marveled at her unusual transformation and great humility, for she who had been a mistress to all was now begging them like a servant. Therefore, they were afraid and terrified, and with great trembling listened to the words of the great Princess Anna. Seeing her son, the pious prince Konstantin, and all the boyars weeping, they were astonished that such intense weeping could not tear the blessed one away from the love of God.
Then she commanded that she be tonsured into the holy angelic schema. And so it was done, and she offered herself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, like a pure young heifer, bringing herself as a whole burnt offering to the Most High High Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ. She escaped from worldly allurements, like a bird from a snare and like a deer from nets, and greatly rejoiced in the Lord her God, that she had obtained the desire of her heart, for from her youth she had constantly prayed to God to be made worthy to bear His good yoke and to truly enjoy the glory of the One God.
And thus, by the grace of Christ, she began to strive in fasting, prayers, and all-night vigils, shedding many tears, constantly tormenting herself with hunger and thirst. For she said that it is fitting to despise the flesh, but more to care for the soul, the immortal part, knowing that the labor of monastic life is hard and that through many labors one must enter the Kingdom of Heaven. For the Kingdom of Heaven is difficult to attain, and those who strive earnestly take it. She greatly loved humility and meekness, knowing that humility destroys all the enemy's wiles. She had equal obedience to all and submitted to every nun for the Lord’s sake.
Who can describe her tears, her labors, her humility and meekness, her obedience, patience, vigilance, and love for God! How can this be comprehended in words or conveyed in writing? For she always sang: “My soul clings to You, O Christ God, and my soul thirsts for the Mighty and Living God. When shall I come and appear before the face of God?” And thus, with the help of Almighty God, she soon surpassed all the nuns there in virtues.
When her son, the pious Prince Konstantin, came to the venerable one with his nobles for blessings and teachings, she instructed him on how to fear God and do what is pleasing to Him, preferring nothing visible over love for Him, and to trust in Him. “For He,” she said, “is the King of kings and Lord of lords. For through Him kings reign and the mighty hold the earth. And He gives the kingdom to whom He wills. For He kills and makes alive, and brings down to the grave and brings up, and makes poor and enriches, humbles and exalts, raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, and sets them among princes, and gives them a throne of earthly kingdom. And there is no one who can resist the greatness of His glory. For who can oppose His will? As the prophet David says: ‘You are awesome, and who can stand against You. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, for in His hand are the deep places of the earth, and the heights of the hills are His also.’ Therefore, she reminded him not to ever become proud of the greatness of his power, but to be humble and meek, and to hate injustice, and to remember the hour of death, and in everything to follow his father, the great prince Michael.”
And thus having instructed him, the venerable one sent him back to his home. With others, the great one did not converse at all, but remained in silence and secluded herself in prayer to God alone, singing to the Lord in her heart: “The Lord is my helper and my protector; in Him my heart trusted, and I was helped, and my flesh flourished, and with my song I will praise Him.” And day by day, ascending to Him in her heart, enlightening her soul with the stream of Divine light, and cleansing her mind's contemplation, she strove to reach the rank of the bodiless ones, desiring to receive unceasing spiritual knowledge, divine vision, and discernment.
She kept in her mind the memory of death, and remembering this hour, she wept greatly: how after leaving the body, the soul is tested in the air by the wicked demons. And it is truly terrible then for souls who did not bear the fruit of good deeds and did not strive in this temporary life to please God and avoid eternal condemnation. Therefore, the Divine Apostle Paul teaches us thus: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” And as it is impossible for a hungry person to be without bread, so it is impossible for one who wants to be saved not to remember death.
After this, a few years later, her son, the pious Prince Konstantin, departed to the Lord. Then her second son, the pious Prince Vasily Mikhailovich, known as Kashinsky, came to Tver from the city of Kashin and prayed to his mother, the venerable and pious great Princess Anna, to move from the city of Tver to his ruling city of Kashin, to visit her patrimony and so that he could always see her truly holy and angelic face there, and constantly delight in her good life. And he pleaded with her: “O, my mother, venerable and pious great Princess Anna! It was pleasing to God that my brother, always instructed by your teachings, has passed away. Although I was grieved and very inconsolable at being deprived of your sweet teaching, I did not want to offend my brother by asking you to move to my city of Kashin. Now, however, I cannot bear to be deprived of the sight of your angelic countenance.”
The venerable mother replied to him and said: “My beloved child! Our monastic life is severe, and we give an unwavering promise to Christ to stay in one place until our last breath, enduring all sorrows for Christ’s sake. If circumstances force us to move, either due to frequent persecutions or the afflictions borne by those who bear the burdens and daily bitterness for Christ’s sake, then it is fitting to endure it out of love for God. Only for some necessary arrangement is it appropriate to move to another place, according to Christ’s word: if they persecute you in one city, flee to another. Now, with the help of Almighty God, there is no persecution or other afflictions in this city, as there were during the time of your father, the great prince Michael Yaroslavich, from the invasion of the heathen and the intrigues and envy of our own kin. If I leave this city and move to that city, I will be like those who seek the glory of this world. ‘No one,’ says the Son of God, ‘having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.’ For even Abraham, our forefather, would not have received the command from God to leave his homeland and move to a foreign land if the idolatry of his father had not interfered with his love for God and knowledge of God. How can I leave this city, to which the all-merciful God granted His passion-bearer, my husband, Prince Michael, whom this entire city holds as an intercessor to God for protection and help, and I have before my eyes his most holy and passion-bearing body, and looking upon it, I diligently strive in this good struggle, and by his prayers, like wings, I soar with my mind to God! No, my child, no! Stop urging me to move to your city, and do not trouble me further.”
He, however, with tears, begged the blessed one and did not want to lift his head from her holy feet. And again, he spoke to her: “You know, my venerable mother, that from my tender nails I have been attached to your love, and you loved me more than my other brothers, and I never disobeyed your commands and never wanted to be separated from you. But the judgments of God are beyond comprehension, for by the lot and blessing of my holy father and your own, I was granted that city, and it is dear to me for the loyalty and obedience of my boyars, nobles, and all the people. If I wished to leave that city and move here after my brother’s death to hear truly the honey-flowing words of your teaching and to see your angelic face, my nobles and the entire city would not allow me to move here due to my love for them. Therefore, by the counsel of my boyars, nobles, and the entire city, I came to plead with you, for the entire city wishes to see your angelic visage and have you among us, and they ask that the venerable and pious Princess Anna visit her patrimony. ‘In this city,’ they say, ‘such a pious and holy branch grew from noble parents, and it will be a great sorrow for us if we are deprived of her sweet teaching and the sight of her holy face. Go,’ they said, ‘pious prince, to the city of Tver and plead with the venerable mother to move to the city of Kashin, her patrimony, so that her coming will be an eternal praise for our city of Kashin and all its domain. For God granted the city of Tver a fervent intercessor and swift defender, your father, the pious and great prince Michael Yaroslavich. Our city, however, will certainly be granted by the all-merciful God your venerable mother, the pious and great Princess Anna, for help and protection for all generations until the end of time. Therefore, diligently strive to go to the city of Tver to plead with your mother, and the good God will fulfill the desire of your heart.’ Therefore, O holy and blessed mother! Do not leave me in anticipation of your coming to us, do not disregard the plea of the entire city, and more so, my plea, your beloved son, so that I will not be consumed with sorrow if I am deprived of the teaching from your honey-flowing lips. It is better for me to die here than to return to my city empty-handed.”
Such words did the pious Prince Vasily speak to his venerable mother, with many tears, praying in his heart to God that the desire of his heart be fulfilled. The blessed and venerable Princess Anna, hearing the pleas of her son and seeing his faith, reasoned that all this was not without God's providence. Since he had been sent to her by God, she yielded to his plea and promised to move to her patrimony and remain there until the day of her departure to God. And she said to him: “Let it be, my beloved son, according to your will, and as God wills, so shall it be!”
Her pious son, hearing these words, was filled with great joy and glorified Almighty God for not disregarding his plea. Then the venerable and great Princess Anna summoned the nuns of the monastery and informed them of her departure. They, upon hearing the venerable one, were filled with tears and said: “Where are you going, our lady, and why do you wish to part from us? Have we angered you in some way, or acted unrighteously before you, or caused some sorrow to your indomitable and patient humility? Or are the townspeople driving you away from staying with us? Tell us, venerable mother, the reason for your departure.”
She replied: “Do not weep, my sisters! You see that my son has come from the city of Kashin, the pious Prince Vasily, and he urges and beseeches me with many tears to move from here to his city. I have long resisted, not wanting to part from your ascetic life. But he has not ceased to beseech me to go to the city of Kashin. I have reasoned within myself that this is not without God's providence, but he was sent by God to beseech my unworthiness to move from here. And by God's will and your fervent prayers, which help me for good, I wish to go to the city of Kashin to my son, the pious Prince Vasily. You, my sisters, remain here with God and remember my humility in your prayers.”
They said to her: “If you, our lady, leave us, whom shall we look to, and who will show us the path of humility, meekness, and silence? Who will give us instruction without you, so that we can overcome the wiles of the devil?”
The blessed one said to them: “May the good God by His grace preserve you from the many tangled snares of the enemy. I only beseech you: take care of your souls, keep the beauty of your virginity without any harm, and maintain the lamp of your good service unextinguished until the Bridegroom, Christ our God, comes. And if He finds us in our initial abstinence and good fulfillment of monastic life, then He will lead us to the wedding in His Heavenly Kingdom with all the saints. But if He does not find us so, He will surely say to us, as to the foolish virgins: ‘Depart from Me, for I do not know you!’ And then we will weep forever that we have wasted the labor of our monasticism. But it is fitting for us, with all humility and meekness of spirit, to pray to the merciful God, our Lord Jesus Christ, that He may deem us worthy to be heirs of His Heavenly Mansion with the wise virgins, and that He may keep us on the good path, innocent and blameless, for to Him belongs all glory forever. Amen.”
…to be continued…