Optina Elders on Pilgrimages

Optina elders about pilgrimages

The elders harshly reprimanded those who had the opportunity to visit holy sites, but were dissuaded by petty and disrespectful circumstances. Thus, Reverend Antony wrote:

"Nothing stops others from the love of God and from visiting the holy places: neither sorrow, nor sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighs; but you, my beloved, are prevented from fulfilling your promise by the vanity of vanities and the most petty and disrespectful domestic circumstances.

And I am most sorry that you did not bother to worship the Mother of God in the whole year, in the area of which you are. Therefore, I advise you to fulfill this duty from the bottom of your heart urgently until the coming fast, regardless of cold, or any weather or domestic circumstances.

The Monk Ambrose emphasized the importance of pilgrimage trips and warned that if we do not get the spiritual benefit of the pilgrimage, we must reproach ourselves:

“Don’t refuse to go to Kiev on a pilgrimage ahead so soon if anyone offers it. It is better to think first, then talk, especially when it comes to worshiping the holy relics of God's saints. If, being in these places, we do not get spiritual benefit, then the fault is from us, and therefore should rebuke ourselves, and not blame the place or something else.

However, it may not be possible to make the pilgrimage trip because of circumstances beyond one's control. Such elders were comforted. Reverend Macarius wrote the following about the impossibility to visit the Optina desert:

“I hear about your grief that you do not have the freedom to visit our monastery. It is necessary to accept this with obedience to the will of God, for there is nothing unpleasant for us except to omit Him, and this is an art for you in patience and strengthening of your good intention. If it is true, then the more obstacles there are, the more it will multiply.