Hieroschemamonk Vasily (born as Andrey Petrovich Petrov, known in monasticism as Anatoly) was the last Sarov elder and hermit. He was originally from the merchant class of Simbirsk. At the age of 70, in the year of the glorification of Elder Seraphim of Sarov, he received a blessing for hermitage. After some time, he returned to the monastery and went into seclusion.

People came to him from all over Russia. He did not meet with anyone but accepted notes with names for remembrance, requests, or questions through his cell attendant, Father Isaac. In response to questions, he would send a printed sheet from the Sarov publication with excerpts from the teachings and instructions of Elder Seraphim or stories from his life, as well as some icon. With the advent of Soviet power, he endured searches and mockery. He died in 1920.

Here is how Zoya Veniaminovna Pestova described her meeting with Elder Anatoly in 1915 in her book “From Saul to Paul”,

This photograph was given to the Museum of Sarov by the local historian Valentin Alexandrovich Stepashkin. On the back, there is a clear inscription, “To S.D. the sick Lydia, for a cherished memory.” There is also a slightly blurred stamp: “Blessed by monk Anatoly of the Sarov Monastery.” Such photographs were taken home by pilgrims as a memento of their stay in the Sarov Monastery and their meeting with Elder Anatoly. They were kept at home as a blessing.