The MonkMartyr Simon of Volomsk
Commemorated on July 12
The MonkMartyr
Simon of Volomsk, in the world Simeon, son of the peasant Mikhail from the
vicinity of Volokolamsk, was born in the year 1586. At 24 years of age, after
long pilgrimage through Orthodox monasteries, he took monastic vows at the
Pinegsk Makar'ev monastery, and in the year 1613 he settled 80 versts to the
southwest of Ustiug at the River Kichmenga, in the Volomsk forest. Here he
spent five years alone, remote from people; he nourished himself with vegetables
which he himself cultivated, and sometimes indeed asked for bread in some
settlement. When lovers of the quiet life began to gather to him, the Monk
Simon, through a grant of tsar Mikhail Feodorovich and with the blessing of the
Rostov metropolitan Varlaam, erected a temple in honour of the Cross of the
Lord, and in 1620 was made head of the monastery founded by him. A strict
ascetic, serving as an example to all in virtue, love of toil, fasting and
prayer, he was wickedly murdered in his own monastery on 12 July 1641. The body
of the Monk Simon with reverence was buried on the left side of the church
built by him.
Veneration of the
monk began in 1646 after gracious manifestations witnessed to of his relics.
His life was compiled in the XVII Century.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
