Monk Kornilii of Pereyaslavl' (1693)
Blessed Kiprian of Suzdal', Fool-for-Christ's-Sake (+ 1622)

The Monk Kornilii of Pereyaslavl

Konon was the son of a Ryazan merchant. In his youthful years he left his parental home and lived for five years as a novice of the Starets [Elder] Paul in the Lukyanovsk wilderness near Pereyaslavl'. Afterwards the young ascetic transferred to the Pereyaslavl' monastery of Saints Boris and Gleb on the Sands [Peskakh].

Konon eagerly went to church and unquestioningly did everything that they commanded him. In the refectory the he did not sit down with the brethren, but contented himself with what remained, accepting food three times a week.

After five years, he took monastic orders and received the name Kornilii. From that time no one saw him sleeping on a bed. Several of the brethren scoffed at him as foolish, but he quietly endured the insults and intensified his monastic efforts. Having asked permission of the hegumen (see Definitions, right) to live as an hermit, he secluded himself into his own separately constructed cell and constantly practised asceticism in fasting and prayer.

One time the brethren found him barely alive. Three months he lay ill: he could take only water and juice. However, once recovered and being persuaded by the hegumen, stayed to live with the brethren. Saint Kornilii was sexton in church, served in the refectory, and toiled in the garden.

In the monastery garden he grew excellent apples, which he lovingly distributed to those approaching. He also built a well for the brethren.

For thirty years Kornilii lived in complete silence, being considered by the brethren as deaf and dumb. However, before his death on 22 July 1693, he made confession to the monastery priest Father Varlaam, communed the Holy Mysteries, and took on the schema (see Definitions, right). He was buried in the chapel. After 9 years during the construction of a new church his relics were opened uncorrupt.

In 1705, Saint Dimitrii, Metropolitan of Rostov had the relics of the Monk Kornilii moved to the new church in a secluded place. Bishop Dimitrii also composed a tropar and kondak (see Definitions, right) to the Kornilii.

Notes for this article:

Places:

Pereyaslavl

Ryazan

Rostov

Definitions:

hegumen,
head of an Orthodox monastery; an abbot.

schema,
1) distinctive monastic clothing; like a scapular in shape, but not of the same historic or symbolic origin; 2) the fourth stage in monastic life: including reaffirming life vows in a very solemn rite and adding special acts of aseticism

tropar,
the dismissal hymn, used to commemorate a
saint, martyr, or feast day

konak,
a hymn sung after the tropar; can also be use in commemoration

Blessed Kiprian, fool-for-Christ's-sake

Kiprian was gatekeeper of the church in Voskresensk, near the city of Kovrov in Vladimir Diocese.

Saint Kiprian pursued his calling in silence on an island near the mouth of the rivers Kliazma and Uvod.

At his death on 22 July 1622, he was buried near the church in the village of Voskresensk. In the year 1751, admirers of the saint added a chapel to the church near his grave, in honour of the "Protection [Pokrov]" of the Mother of God.

Notes for this article:

Places:

Voskresensk,
the website is in Russian, but the pictures are good. Modern Voskresensk is known for producing fertilizers and other agricultural products, as well as hockey players.

Kovrov,
city
academy of technology

Kliazma