These essays and stories from the history of the Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage are a new edition, revised by the author, of his famous book “The Optina Were.” Monk Lazar (Afanasyev) is an Optina monk and himself a former inhabitant of the monastery. Perhaps that is why he was able to depict this pearl of the Russian spirit and culture so heartfeltly, with a feeling of reverent love and gratitude. Many stories and essays are drawn from the never-published skete Chronicle. With special spiritual trepidation, we get acquainted with the famous Optina elders and ascetics, their high prayer life. The narrative covers the period of the existence of the Optina Hermitage from Abbot Ambrose, who revived it at the end of the 18th century, to the Optina new martyrs Hieromonk Vasily and the monks Ferapont and Trofim, who were killed in 1993. It is told here and about those wonderful people who were so close to the Optina spirit - I.V. and N.P.Kireevsky, K.N.Leontyev, Grand Duke K.R.