The Monk Nikiphor of Vazheozersk
Commemorated on February 9
The Monk Nikiphor
of Vazheozersk came to the monk Alexander of Svir' (Comm. 17 April) in the
year 1510 and was warmly received by him. In 1518 he made a visit, with the
blessing of his mentor, to Kirill of Novoezersk (Comm. 4 February). When
Nikiphor approached New-Lake (ie. Novo-ezero), he was fatigued by his long
journey and laid down in the darkness and fell asleep. Saint Kirill through his
perspicacity hastened by boat to row across the lake and awoke him. The monk
Nikiphor spent eight days in spiritual conversation with the saint. Nikiphor
then journeyed to Kiev to venerate the relics of the Pechersk saints.
Upon his return, and
with the blessing of the monk Alexander, he settled at Vazheozersk, – there
where the monk Gennadii pursued asceticism. Saint Nikiphor raised up the Church
of the Transfiguration and a monastery there, in which he established community
life, and pursued asceticism until his own death.
In the second half of
the XIX Century in the Zadne-Nikiforovsk wilderness was built a church in the
name of the monks Nikiphor and Gennadii of Vazheozersk. The relics of the
saints were put to rest under a concealed place in the monastery established by
them.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.