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==Life==
The Elder Moses was one of five children in the family of John Putilov in the town of Borisogleb in Yaroslavl province in Russia. He was born on [[January 15]], 1782 and was [[baptism|baptized]] Timothy. As a youth he received the blessing of St. Seraphim to enter the monastic life. In 1811, he joined the Roslavl forest [[ascetic]]s and came under the spiritual guidance of Elder Athanasius, a [[disciple]] of St. [[Paisius Velichkovsky]]. In time, he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] by Fr. Anthanasius. On January 15, 1816, he was joined by his younger brother Alexander, the future Elder [[Anthony of Optina|Anthony]]. During these times Moses forged ties with Elder [[Leonidof Optina|Leonid]], a future elder of Optina. For fourteen years Moses exercised himself in spiritual warfare and inner concentration under the tutelage of the [[disciple]]s of the Elder Paisius Velichkovsky. He was a strict keeper of the fast and ascetic life.
During those times some of Paisius' disciples had started a revival of the Monastery of Optina, Moses made a visit to the [[monastery]] in 1821. The brethren persuaded him to stay and to take part in building a skete nearby that Bishop Philaret of Kaluga had proposed. On [[July 6]], 1822, Moses joined in the building project with his younger brother Anthony and two other monks. A year later, they had completed the church for skete, of which Moses was elected [[Igumen]].
[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category: Russian Saints]]
[[Category: Monastics]]
[[Category: Elders]]
[[Category:19th-century saints]]
