Elder Melchizedek : Hermit of the Roslavl Forest (The Acquisition of the Holy Spirit in Ancient Russia series)

The Life of the pious man in ELDER MELCHIZEDEK was very unusual, even unique--it was an extremely long life, lasting for 125 years, from 1715 to 1840. At 95 years of age, Elder Melchizedek left his monastery for the life of a solitary in the great White Forest. At this age, he had the vigor of a man in his fifties, mentally alert and courageous.

Elder Melchizedek was part of the whole phenomenon of the desert dwellers of Roslavl, which led to the formation of the Optina Skete. Similar to many others who pursued monastic love for the wilderness, he was a contemporary of outstanding men of prayer to whom mystical realities were opened.