The author was the daughter of a wealthy Russian landowner, who first visited the famous Optina monastery in April 1919. She met there the monks Nektary and Anatoly who facilitated her own search for spiritual truth. This is her vivid account of these meetings, consisting of two parts: "Recollections about the Optina Elder Hieroschemamonk Nektary" and " My First Trip to the Optina Hermitage, and my Visit with Elder Hieroschemamonk Anatoly." A short glossary of commonly used terms is provided at the end. The text provides a fascinating glimpse into the reality of daily life in the early days of Communist rule in Russia.