Elder Hieronymus the Athonite
Elder Hieronymus the Athonite (known by the secular name Ivan Pavlovich Solomentsev) was born in Stary Oskol in 1805. From a young age, he served as an altar boy during the Divine Liturgy, while he was also singing in the church choir. Ivan demonstrated a special spiritual gift from a very young age, becoming known as a "child elder." At the age of 25, he left his parental home and spent several years in the Russian monasteries. Inspired by the stories of Mount Athos, he traveled to see the Garden of the Virgin Mary. He arrived in 1836 and he was one of the first Russian pilgrims to visit the place, after a century-long gap due to the Russian-Turkish wars. At Mount Athos, he found the peace he desired, he received a cell, and settled there together with two disciples. He took the monastic vows and adopted the monastic name Ioannikios.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon was in decline, and the brotherhood, led by the abbot Gerasimos, was starving. The monks were keeping their faith based in an old prophecy: "God will not abandon the monastery but will raise a man who will revive it". This prophecy was fulfilled when the Russian monk Ioannikios arrived. In 1840, he settled at Saint Panteleimon Monastery, was ordained, and received the great schema together with the name Hieronymus. Among other roles, he became the monastery’s confessor.
Elder Hieronymus Solomentsov lived at the Russian monastery for about half a century, working tirelessly. He was known for reviving the Russian monasticism on Athos and was called "founder" – builder of the monastery. He also had the gift of spirituality. Hieronymus was truly a perceptive and wise spiritual father.
Hieronymus used to help the abbot, he managed the monastery's affairs so effectively that soon funds were found to pay off enormous debts and construct the buildings needed. The number of monks also increased so that by the end of Hieronymus's life, about 1,000 monks from various countries lived there: Russians, Greeks, Serbs, Bulgarians, and Moldovans, following the Athonite Orthodox tradition.
The famous Russian philosopher Leontiev wrote the following about Elder Hieronymus of Athos:
"He was not just a high-ranking monk, but a remarkably noteworthy man. It is not for me to recognize him as a saint – that is the Church’s right and not a private individual’s – however I immediately recognized him as a great personality: a man with a pure soul and extraordinary intelligence. Steadfast, unshakable, fearless, enterprising, courageous, and prudent at the same time – a profound idealist and businessman to the fullest, impressively handsome even in his old age, Father Hieronymus had no difficulty in subduing people. I noticed that those who were themselves spiritually and morally superior were influenced even more strongly than ordinary people. This is understandable. The latter perhaps only feared him, while intelligent, original people capable of understanding surrendered to him with admiration and love. I experienced this inexplicable, even attractive power myself at the age of 40. I saw its effect on others too."
Elder Hieronymus was a true father to his spiritual children. He watched over each soul without excess and led them to salvation in his own way: punishing some with severity, others with affection, praising, and reprimanding. His reputation as a devout and visionary elder began to grow and Father Hieronymus was surrounded by people who wanted to entrust their souls to him. People came to Saint Panteleimon Monastery from all over the Mount Athos, seeking to confess to the holy elder. The monks themselves used to say: "Let’s go to him, he will resolve our doubts, for God speaks through his mouth."
This special gift of resolving disputes and conflicts and seeking the essence of the problem was acquired by the Elder Hieronymus in his youth, while traveling in Russia with a friend. One day, young Ivan felt a pain in his stomach and laid down on the road. His friend went to seek help, and when he returned, he saw that Ivan seemed much better. The young man said that Saint John the Evangelist had appeared to him and asked what was wrong. "My stomach hurts unbearably," Ivan replied. Saint John the Theologian then said, "Now you are well! Ask me for anything else you want." Ivan then courageously asked for the gift of reason and words. "And these will be given to you," said the apostle and disappeared.
The elder peacefully passed away in 1885.
