Xenia of St. Petersburg: Moving bricks

Clearly, you are a God who works behind the scenes, God of Israel, Savior God. Isaiah 45:15

“Much of Xenia’s life remains a mystery as we know neither the dates of her birth nor her death, but only that she lived in eighteenth century Russia… It would seem that she led a rather comfortable life, and it is known that she was happily married and devoted to her husband, Col. Andrei Feodorovich Petrov, a chanter in the imperial court.

When she was twenty-six years of age, her husband died suddenly by some accounts as a result of over-imbibing at a drinking party. Inconsolable in her grief at her husband’s death, she turned her heart entirely to contemplating the Kingdom of heaven and disdained anything of the world. Giving away all her personal possessions to the poor, she threw off all ties to worldly things…

Once she had divested herself of all her belongings, Xenia disappeared from St. Petersburg for a time. It is not known where she was during this time, but it is believed that she may have spent those eight years in a convent where she learned about spiritual life and the prayer of the heart and where she further advanced her desires to be a fool for Christ…

In tune the people of St. Petersburg grew to see Xenia not as a beggar but as someone quite special… For a long time, no one knew where Xenia spent her nights. She could be seen wandering the streets and fields during daylight, but she seemed just to disappear after sunset. The police investigated the situation and found that she would spend her nights in an open field, praying and making prostrations all through the night…

Near the end of the saint’s earthly life, a church was being built in the Smolensk cemetery. The construction workers noticed during the night, while they were all home asleep, someone would move large bundles of bricks to the top of the building where they were needed the next day.

Curious to know what charitable crew was moving such heavy material for them, the workers posted a watchman one night to discover whom to thank. They were amazed to learn that it was the aged Xenia who would move the bricks for them, granted the strength to do so by an unseen Hand.”

Xenia of St. Petersburg (eighteenth century) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 123-129.

This marks the last of 20 fools for Christ. Perhaps Craton saved the best for last. How cool that an old lady moved bricks to help people in the darkness of night, never seeking attention. That’s generosity.

What bricks might you and I move today?

I travel to Brazil this Sunday for two weeks of program work to multiply stewards and form a working group to set up a peer accountability group. I need to pray where to direct my reading next. Stay tuned.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

“Most of the lives of fools for Christ appear to be extraordinary and even controversial – especially to the world – but that of Symeon of Emesa is one of the most complex and unusual of all. One of the earliest recorded holy fools of Christendom. Symeon remains a complicated figure to this day.

Born around the year 522 in Edessa, he was reportedly of noble and certainly wealthy lineage. Little is known of his early life in Eddessa, but he is known to have set out on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem around age thirty.

Along the way he befriended a fellow pilgrim also from Edessa named John who would become his lifelong friend and confidant. After celebrating the Exaltation of the Cross in Jerusalem together, the two returned to their respective homes in Edessa but remained close friends, both devoted wholeheartedly to following God.

Though both Symeon and John were quite wealthy, they gave up all their earthly inheritance in exchange for an inheritance above, and they both entered the Monastery of St. Gerasimos where they were tonsured monks. After about a year there, the two left the monastery for the desert near the Dead Sea.

There they spent the better part of the next 30 years in solitude and prayer, struggling to overcome all earthly passions. When Symeon was about 60 years of age, he received inspiration from God to return to the world and go to Emesa in order to provide aid and guidance to the people there.

Symeon asked the Lord if he might be allowed to serve the people in a way that would bring no glory or praise to himself, so that all might know whatever good he may perform would be done only by the hand of God who alone should receive praise.

Thus, when he arrived in Emesa, Symeon took on the difficult role of playing a fool for Christ’s sake, in order that all might think him mad and attribute all good things to God alone.”

Symeon of Emesa (sixth century) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 115-121.

Notice two things in this second-to-last holy fool from this great book.

First, Symeon spent the prime of his life in prayer and solitude. Some might call that wasted. Others might say this was his season of preparation. I would lean that direction. Prayer and solitude are great disciplines that position us for God to do His best work through us.

Second, Symeon was 60 years old when his best work happened. Imagine the aid and guidance he could provide to the people of Emesa at 60 years old. So much that we are talking about him 1400 years later. He just shared the good and perfect gifts God lavished on him.

Are you 30? What if God called you to 30 years of prayer and solitude? Are you 60? What if God called you to a season of providing aid and giving guidance? As my friend, John Stanley would say, “Get connected, get clear, and get going!”

What are you waiting for? Your best contributions are yet ahead of you.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

“The exact date and place of Prokopiy’s birth are not known, but he was a foreigner (most likely a German) of Roman Catholic confession. As a merchant, he traded often in Novgorod, where he was exposed to the beauty of Holy Orthodoxy…

Though he had acquired substantial wealth as a merchant, once his heart was converted he chose to give away all his possessions to the poor and became a monk at the Varlaam of Khutyn Monastery near Novgorod. Word spread throughout the city of this rich foreigner who divested himself of all his great wealth…

His name grew to be highly praised among the people, but such acclaim displeased Prokopiy, as he knew this would tempt him to pride and vainglory. He believed that the people should direct their praise only to God.

So, after a time he left the monastery and relocated to Ustyug, where no one knew him, and took up the difficult podvig of being a fool for Christ… There in Ustyug, Prokopiy endeavored to conquer pride and adopt true humility.

Possessing nothing but three wooden staffs, he wandered barefoot and poorly clad through the city streets in both summer and winter… The local citizens misunderstood him, and they would daily mock, insult, spit upon, and sometimes even beat him as he walked about.

At night he would spend much time in prayer, supplicating especially for those who had abused him during the day, echoing the words of the Savior, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Prokopiy of Ustyug (c.1243-1303) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 109-113.

I only have two more Holy Fools left after today. I hope you have enjoyed this 20 day exploration.

I want to comment on two themes I see from all of them. First, they chose a path that was so countercultural that they suffered derision. Second, they supplicated by night. They prayed at night for those who did not understand their radical obedience by day.

Father in heaven, help us live so radically different that people will think we are crazy. And by night, help us pray for those who label us with such words that they will see your love through us. In your mercy, hear my prayer for us in the name of Jesus. Amen.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Pelagia Ivanovna Serebrennikova was born into a wealthy merchant family in Arzamas in the year 1809. Her father died when she was still a child, and sometime after she fell into a serious illness that kept her bedridden for an extensive period. When she recovered, it was said she was a very different child from what she had been before and often acted bizarrely in public.

This caused those around her to nickname her “Fool” even in childhood. Her stepfather often would punish her severely for such behavior, and it was many years later that her mother finally realized she had been gifted with the grace to become a fool for Christ. When she was nineteen, her mother and stepfather gave her away in marriage to a man named Sergei, but her odd behavior continued.

Her husband and mother both were very concerned about her well-being, and so they decided to take her to see Seraphim of Sarov to ask for his aid. Seraphim took her aside and conversed with her privately for a long while, then brought her back to her mother and husband. Before they left, Seraphim bowed to Pelagia and instructed her mother to take her to Diveyevo so that she could “defend my orphans” there.

He then gave her a prayer rope and bade them farewell. After they left, a young monk as Seraphim who this strange woman was, and Seraphim replied, “Believe God, Father Ivan, this woman whom you see will be a great luminary for the whole world.” After returning home to her husband, Pelagia’s behavior remained unchanged, and she began again walking the streets nearly naked and spending all night in prayer on the church porch.

When Sergei would try to help her by giving her warm clothing or money for her needs, she would immediately turn around and give these things to the poor. This eventually became more than Sergei could bear, and so he turned her out. Pelagia then returned to her mother’s house…

Pelagia’s mother went again to visit Seraphim to see what might be done, and he instructed her to allow Pelagia to continue acting in whatever way she chose, as it was pleasing to God… Because of miracles and healings associated with her prayers, Pelagia’s fame became widely known, and she received visitors from all across Russia and from every walk of life.”

Pelagia of Diveyevo (1809-1884) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 103-106.

Two things stood out to me when I read about this fool for Christ.

The first one relates to Seraphim. When everyone thought Pelagia was crazy for her commitment to prayer, Seraphim believed in her and proclaimed that she would be a luminary for God. It came to pass. That tells me the importance of speaking blessing over people committed to the things of God.

The second one relates to Pelagia. After visiting Seraphim, who gave her a prayer rope. She is known for using that tool to remind her stay focused in her prayers the rest of her life.

I am home now, but reflecting with gratitude to God for the blessing of visiting my “Seraphim of Sarov” also known as John Stanley in Wisconsin a third year in a row. He gave me a prayer rope of sorts, a tener (has a cross and ten beads). That prayer tool has helped me so much I give them away to people when I see them.

I want everyone praying 10 times a day a prayer like the Surrender Novena: “Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything.” Who knows? It might help multiply fools for Christ who can become luminaries around the world.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

“Born to a family of serfs in 1795 in the village of Nikolskoye, Tambov, and originally christened Irina Ivanovna, Paraskeva was given in marriage to a man named Feodor when she was seventeen years old. By all accounts she was a dutiful wife with a meek bearing who was dedicated to her husband and to prayer. She did not participate in community activities beyond church, but she was much admired, particularly by her parents-in-law.

Irina and Feodor, were not blessed with children. After fifteen years of serving their Russian masters as serfs, Feodor and Irina were sold to a German family named Schmidt. Five years after that, however, Feodor contracted tuberculosis and died. The Schmidts initially tried to convince Irina to remarry, but she adamantly refused.

Sometime later, the Schmidts found that two valuable paintings were missing from their household, and one of the servant women accused Irina of being the thief. The police arrested her and proceeded to beat her severely, but Irina consistently pleaded innocence…

She ran away and went to Kyiv on a pilgrimage. During the pilgrimage, she knew she was being called to devote herself entirely to Christ, and after having been unfairly punished herself, she felt that she could identify more with Christ’s own sufferings at the hands of evil accusers…

For running away, the Schmidts unceremoniously threw her out into the street with nothing but the clothes she was wearing. This action pleased Irina, since during her last visit to Kyiv she had received tonsure with the name Paraskeva, and she saw her expulsion as a sign that God was calling her to the difficult path of a fool for Christ.

Paraskeva kept a strict rule of prayer, always rising at midnight to pray and insisting that anyone living with her do the same. She also would spend much of her time knitting socks or spinning thread, reciting the Jesus Prayer endlessly as she worked.

When a visitor once asked her if she might join Paraskeva at the monastery, she replied, “Well, why not? Come to us in Sarov, we’ll collect mushrooms and knit stockings” – meaning by this that they would to prostrations and say the Jesus Prayer together.”

Paraskeva of Diveyevo (1795-1915 in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 97-101.

The Jesus Prayer goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” The origin of calling it the Jesus Prayer goes back for centuries with monks in monasteries. It finds biblical roots in today’s Scripture.

From Paraskeva, we learn many things. Though she had an upbringing filled with slavery, death, and false accusations, she saw them not as reasons to become hard and bitter but ways to identify with Jesus.

And she encouraged everyone she knew to come before him humbly with her in prayer to find mercy, grace, and help in time of need. This seems to be a fitting post as I depart John’s place today.

It was John who changed my life 2.5 years ago with the Surrender Novena from Dolindo Ruotolo. “Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!” He encouraged me to pray it ten times a day. It’s changed my life and thousands of others.

I can see how visits with Paraskeva would transform the lives of her guests and strict rules of prayer do not make us weird. They make us wise. They do not waste our time. They teach us how not to waste our life.

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling. Kiss His son, or He will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Psalm 2

“Very little is known about the life of Nicholas of Pskov beyond his famous encounter with Tsar Ivan IV (Ivan Grozny or Ivan the Terrible), related below. He is believed to have been a lifelong resident of Pskov and well-known fool for Christ throughout the region and perhaps most of Russia.

The greatest amount of information we have about Nicholas involves a single day in his life, 20 February 1570. On this day the second Sunday of Great Lent, the city of Pskov trembled because of the expected visit of Tsar Ivan IV and his army. Ivan had recently completed his campaign against the city of Novgorod, where he directed his soldiers to massacre thousands of its citizens. This was one of the most brutal and notorious acts ever perpetrated by a Russian tsar against his own people.

The entire population feared that his wrath had not been quenched by the bloodshed in Novgorod and would be visited upon their own city. In anticipation of the tsar’s arrival the citizenry prepared a profusion of welcoming gifts of bread and salt (the traditional means of cordial invitation in Russia), but despite their attempts to appease the tsar’s acrimony they remained in dread of his arrival.

When presented with the gifts of bread and salt on his approach to the city gates, Ivan reportedly brushed them aside in disdain, causing the crowds to fear him all the more.As they hastily prostrated themselves before the tsar, from out of the crowd came Nicholas the Fool riding a children’s stick horse and shouting, “Ivanushko, Ivanushko [meaning “Little Ivan”], eat our bread and salt, and not Christian blood.”

Infuriated at this, the tsar ordered Nicholas to be seized, but a strong gust of wind suddenly blew up the snow in great swirls, making Nicholas invisible to the guards and he escaped. Since it was Sunday, Ivan’s procession went to the cathedral in Pskov, and the tsar himself entered and stood for an entire moleben given for his health.

As he was leaving the cathedral, Nicholas again approached him and invited him to come to his cell beneath the bell tower for refreshment. The fact that the tsar consented to do so gives credence to the belief that Nicholas was already well-known as a devout fool for Christ.

Upon entering the cramped cell, the tsar noticed that a slab of raw meat lay on the table. Nicholas said to him, “Eat Little Ivan, eat!” But Ivan, annoyed and insulted, replied that he was a Christian and did not eat meat during Lent. Nicholas then said, “Does Ivashka [another diminutive name for Ivan] think that eating a piece of animal meat during a fast is a sin, whereas eating as much human meat as he has already eaten is no sin?”

Furious at receiving such a rebuke, Ivan stormed from the cell, evidentkly intent on repeating the evils he had visited upon Novgorod, Nicholas ran after him, giving him a stern warning. “Do not dare touch us, you vagabond. Leave us quickly, because if you dally you will have nothing on which to flee from here.”

Ignorning the saint, Ivan ordered his army to proceed with his commands. But again Nicholas cried out, “If your warriors touch a single hair on the least child in this city, a fire from heaven will overtake you. God’s judgment is already hanging over you, and you will not escape death by fire from heaven.”

At that moment bolts of lightning shot from the rolling storm clouds that had been gathering above the city, terrifying even Tsar Ivan’s most courageous soldiers. Word came to Ivan that one of the bolts had struck the tsar’s own horse, killing it instantly.

This caused Ivan to recall the words Nicholas had spoken, that if he did not leave quickly, he would have nothing on which to flee. Terrified, he turned to the clergy, asked them to pray for him, then took the horse of one of his servants and fled in haste. Thus this city of Pskov was saved from destruction, despite Ivan’s initial plan.”

Nicholas of Pskov (d. 1576) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 91-94.

Today’s post was long so I will keep my comments short.

Nicholas the fool was fearless. The people were overcome by fear. Ivan the Terrible was even terrified. The role of the fool here was to proclaim truth in clever ways without fear acknowledging the sovereignty of God over even Ivan the Terrible!

His tone reminds me of David in today’s Scripture. And the cleverness of Nicholas comes out in his “Ivanushko, Ivanushko” and “Ivashka” comments. Ivanushko means “God is gracious.” He said it twice to get his attention.

And Ivashka means “God is my God.” These variations of His name aimed to send a message. Generous fools proclaim that God is gracious. Everyone must pay attention to Him. And  He will remain faithful to the ones who proclaim Him as their God.

That’s what happens when I visit my friend John. I am reminded of the grace of God and His faithfulness to stand with those who put their trust in Him. I thank God for this time together and travel home tomorrow morning.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

“Like a number of other fools for Christ who abandoned all worldly goods and honor, Nicholas was born into a wealthy and distinguished family of Novgorod. From his earliest days, he was noted for being exceptionally devoted to Christ, attending services regularly, and with great joy and eagerness embracing fasting and prayer.

As other observed his inestimable piety, he began receiving praise and commendations from his fellow citizens. He did not desire this because he wanted all praise to go to God, not to himself, as he saw such adulation as a gateway to pride and downfall. To avoid temptation to vainglory, Nicholas turned to the challenging practice of foolishness for the Lord’s sake.

Though of wealthy estate, he began wandering the city dressed in rags, even in the bitterly cold winters. The citizens of Novgorod perceived him as a beggar and vagrant and often subjected him to mockery, insults, and even beatings. All these Nicholas bore with patience and forgiveness in his heart, and he considered it a blessing to be persecuted for the Lord’s sake.

During the time Nicholas lived in Novgorod, the city was divided in strife between two quadrants. The Torgov quarter and the Sophia quarter. For some reason there wwas a great rivalry between these tow parts of Novgorod, and the populace engaged in trifling disputes and quarreling.

As it happened, there was another fool for Christ in Novgorod contemporary with Nicholas, a man named Theodore. In order to demonstrate to the people the absurdity of the endless squabbles with which they antagonized one another, Nicholas and Theodore feigned being mortal enemies who could not be reconciled.”

Nicholas of Novgorod (d. 1592) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 87-88.

Today we get a bonus saint. We learn from Nicholas and Theodore about piety and absurdity.

This seems fitting for me as I spend special time with my friend, John Stanley. Two saints encouraging each other to live, give, serve, and love both foolishly and generously. We also love to go fly fishing together. We caught 15 brown trout yesterday.

Nicholas and Theodore were known for their piety. And I learn something deep by watching how they tried to demonstrated to the people the absurdity of their behavior. Sometimes as fools for Christ we need to help people see what God sees but what they don’t see.

Ponder that. Most people pursue wealth. Fools pursue God.

Most people want to give glory to people with piety. Fools shun the spotlight. Most people fight for their rights and want things to go their way. Fools try to help people see the error in their ways. God help us be generous fools for you. Amen!

And [Jesus] said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

“Nikolai was born Nikolai Matveevich Rynin on 22 May 1777 in Vologda, Russia. Born into a wealthy merchant family, Nicholai was taught to read and write by his parents and from his youth desired to serve God and his fellow man. As he reached the age of majority, he rejected wealth and gave away his portion of his inheritance to the poor. He went around Vologda dressed as a beggar and lived off charity.

Nicholai spent his days attending services at various churches throughout the city, and at night he spent his time in solitude and prayer, generally in some place where on one could find him. Later he began to roam from city to city, spending time not only in Vologda but also in Kadnikov and Totma. He is remembered for always wearing a white shirt and a blue canvas balakhon (a kind of loose overall), a long white shirt, and leather straps on his legs.

He almost always carried a large staff and he walked and would go hatless in both winter and summer, though sometimes he would tie a towel around his head in bitter cold. Nicholai’s voice was said to be very husky, gravelly, and even garbled, but like the prophets of old, his speech typically carried special meaning, the significance of which would sometimes not be revealed until later…

Nicholai carried with him various things he would give to those whom he encountered, always providing items of special significance for their particular situation. To a hungry person he would give food, to someone experiencing grief he might give coal, to others bread, and for the children always sweets. He was a great friend to children and was much loved by them.

Nicholai maintained the heart of a child throughout his life. Thought he could be strict in his counsel to adults who practiced unrighteousness, he was very kind to all children and they generally followed him about with purity of heart.

Nikolai of Vologda (1777-1837) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 83-85.

This guy lived with intentionality toward others and hospitality toward children. That’s my two-part takeaway from his example. And what a good set of takeaways!

He dressed simply, ministered to the needs of people, and always had something sweet for children. I notice something in these two traits especially as I too have a prophetic ministry.

It can be easy for a prophet to lose childlike faith when engaging adults practicing unrighteousness. Not Nicholai. And that’s part of why I like to spend time with my friend, John.

Regardless of the craziness of life and people, John (with whom I am staying in Wisconsin this week), like Nicholai, exhibits consistency, faithfulness, and humility with his intentional living.

I want to encourage you to block time every year to spend with a holy fool for Christ. Spend time with him or her and like the children in Nicholai’s story, follow “with purity of heart.”

You will grow closer to God. You will learn how to make every day count with special meaning and significance. And you will maintain your childlike faith and hospitality toward children in the process.

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:15

“The loves of most fools for Christ tend to be somewhat mysterious, but that of Michael of Klops Monastery is exceptionally enigmatic.

As Matins [Midhnight prayer] was being served in Klops Monastery on 23 June 1408. Hieromonk Macarius censed the church and the nearby cells, which included his own. As he approached his cell, he noticed that the door was open, and insight at his desk sat a man dressed as a monastic busily copying the Acts of the Apostles. Not recognizing the man, Macarius hastened to tell the abbot and the other brethren about this mysterious guest.

When they came to the cell, the stranger was still sitting calmly, copying from the Scriptures. When they asked who he was, they were answered only with the same question. The brothers assumed the man to be a simpleminded fool who somehow had managed to sneak into the monastery qnd unlock Macarius’ cell door – though they never learned how he had accomplished either task.

Though perceived as a fool, the stranger was able to chant and read eloquently during the Divine Liturgy and from the lives of the saint during meals. He was given a cell and participated in the life and worship of the monastery, but every attempt to learn who he was and where he came from was unsuccessful. He was strict in fasting and prayer, and he kept nothing in his cell – not even a mat for sleeping.

Observing his virtuous behavior, the monks honored him as a very holy individual; but in order not to allow this honor to lead to pride, the stranger adopted foolish behavior in everything he did. It wasn’t until the famousPrince Constantine Dmitrievich visited the monastery that the monks learned the identity of their holy fool. They asked the stranger to read from the book of Job during mealtime, and Prince Constantine seemed to recognize his voice.

Coming closer to examine the unknown reader, the prince suddenly boweed to the stranger and announced that he was non other than his own kinsman, Michael Maximovich. When asked why he had not revealed his identity, Michael replied, “Ony the Creator knows me and who I am.” Once they learned of his noble blood, the monks began to show greater honor to Michael, but this was something he wished to avoid. Thus he began increasing his struggles in foolishness, setting a great example to his brethren in all monastic work, vigils, and prayer.”

Michael of Klops Monastery (fifteenth century) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 77-81.

The more I study this holy fool, the more he reminds me of Jesus. Notice that Jesus did not come wrapped in royalty but appeared in poverty. He did not announce his identity to command respect and honor. He showed love and pointed people to the way of life.

Jesus was the living Word and Michael was found copying the Word, reading the Word, and loving others as it taught, following the example of Christ. I love how Michael, following the mysterious and enigmatic example of Jesus did not advertise his nobility but demonstrated it. Ponder that.

What if, like Jesus and Michael we don’t give ourselves to advertising our faith but give our energies to demonstrating it? We would likely appear mysterious and enigmatic, as most people advertise what they are doing. His example spoke for itself and inspired others. May we do likewise.

I am flying to Wisconsin today through Sunday to spend time with a spiritual friend, John Stanley. I will live in his guest house and eat from his table. We will share conversations about living in mysterious and enigmatic ways and do a little fly fishing. I do this every June as a spiritual retreat.

Pray with me that we both grow as holy fools as a result.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

“Maria’s mother died when she was thirteen and her father a year later, so that she was orphaned by age fourteen. At first she was taken in by her eldest brother’s family, but the sister-in-law did not like her and made her life very difficult. This was partly because Maria had been “different” from early childhood, very much a loner who did not play with other children but preferred going to church and never engaging in community frivolities. She also preferred dressing in worn out clothes and tended toward being unkempt in appearance.

She is said to have received visions of St. Seraphim of Sarov and of the Diveyevo Monastery from her youth although she had not yet been to the monastery. When a group of women and girls from the village decided to go on a pilgrimage to Sarov, Maria elected to join them. Because of her unenviable home life and the visions she had received, she chose not to return to the village at the end of the pilgrimage but instead wandered the forests between Diveyevo’s surrounding communities. Having nothing but the shabby clothing she had worn on the journey, she soon wandered about half naked and was often mocked and mistreated by local peasants who thought her mad…

Despite all the tragedies, hardships, and persecutions she faced, no one ever heard Maria complain or bewail her state. God was her solace and comfort, and He graced her with a special intuition. People began to notice her great humility and godliness and often would seek her out for counsel and guidance… Maria received a steady stream of people during the trying time of the Russian Revolution, many coming to her for physical healing and many more for spiritual counseling and prayer.”

Maria of Diveyevo (d. 1931) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 71-75.

The apostle Paul called us to live not according to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That’s the story of Maria of Diveyevo. She focused on spiritual things when others cared about community frivolities. In response, God helped her see things, visions, and so she pursued Him with her whole heart.

At first people scorned her. Then because of her great humility and godliness, people started to seek her out. Then in the most difficult times, she provided healing, counseling, and prayer. What can we learn from her example to serve as generous fools for Christ today? At least three things.

One, don’t follow the pattern of the world but care about the things of God. Be different. Different is good.

Two, if He gives you a vision, give yourself to that vision regardless of what others might think. Pursue Him despite mocking and mistreatment. Care more about your inner person than your external dress. Look different.

Three, provide counsel and care to receptive people. When they come for healing, guidance, or prayer, bless them generously from the abundance you have received from God. Serve different.