Archimandrite Leonid (Kavelin) as a Hagiographer of the Optina Desert

Abstract

2022 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the famous theologian, church historian and archeographer of the XIX century, archimandrite Leonid (Kavelin). His first studies were related to Optina Desert, where under the leadership of the prp. He was formed as a monk and an ecclesiastical researcher by Macarius of Optina. In the spiritual heritage of Archimandrite Leonid, a significant place is occupied by hagiographic works dedicated to the first Optina elders Leo and Macarius. A distinctive feature of hagiographic works was the extensive use of historical documents and testimonies: eyewitness memoirs, biographical references, letters, extracts from various documents and books. Historicism has always been combined with simplicity and accessibility of presentation, a good literary style. Father Leonid prepared three editions of the life of St. Leo of Optina (1845, 1847, 1855–1857), as well as the first life of St. Macarius of Optina (1861). Subsequently, the lives of the first Optina ascetics, compiled by Father Leonid, were supplemented and expanded by other hagiographers of the Optina Desert. The significance of the early hagiographic works of fr. Leonida is undoubtedly very important for the Optina spiritual heritage and for the further formation of fr. Leonid as a major church researcher who left a great mark on science.