section of Zosima's life are based on "The Life of the Elder Leonid", a text he found at Optina. Fyodor Pavlovich, a 55-year-old sensualist and compulsive...

The Optina Pustyn near Kozelsk used to be celebrated for its startsy (Schema-Archimandrite Moses, Schema-Hegumen Anthony, Hieroschemamonk Leonid, Hieroschemamonk...

the Optina Monastery). Important Russian Hesychasts of the 19th century, included Saint Seraphim of Sarov (1759–1833), and the Optino elders, Leonid (1768–1860)...