Do you remember Elder Zosima from Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov? The younger brother, Alyosha, was a novice under this monk, who was revered as a saint even during his lifetime. It is believed that the prototype of Zosima was Ambrose of Optina, one of the most famous Russian elders. In the 19th century, he was a monk at Optina Monastery. Those who met Ambrose said that he exuded holiness. People from all over Russia flocked to him—everyone wanted to receive advice or healing. Leo Tolstoy conversed with him many times. Elders were usually schemamonks—monks who led an especially ascetic way of life. They were granted the gift of spiritual insight—elders could see through the people who came to them and could help with their troubles and ailments. The phenomenon of eldership began at Optina Monastery with the 14 Optina elders, who were later canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. "Possessing the gift of insight, they instructed, admonished, and comforted everyone, healed from spiritual and physical illnesses, warned of dangers, and showed the path of life by revealing God's will," wrote Ivan Kontzevich in his book Optina Monastery and Its Time.