ABEL, VASILIEV

ABEL, VASILIEV. - Russian monk (in the world Basilio Vasiliev), born in 1757 at Akulov, in the government of Moscow, died in 1841 in the monastery of Spasso-Evfimiev. He posed as a mystic and prophet, which gained him numerous followers, but ultimately brought him many bitter disappointments. It is related, indeed, that, having predicted the death of Caterina II, she had him confined in a fortress. Paolo I wished to free him, but, after hearing him, sent him back to prison. Alessandro I restored him to liberty, and Nicola I assigned him the monastery of Spasso-Evfimiev as his residence, where he died. A. left a series of writings in which the account of his adventures is accompanied by mystical commentaries akin to Masonic literature. We may mention: Vita e prove di P. Abel; Discorsi sull'Essere; Ciò che è l'essenza divina; Libro primo sull'esistenza del monaco Abel; etc.