The Monk Methodii of Peshnoshsk
Commemorated on June 4, June 14
The Monk Methodii,
Hegumen of Peshnozh (XIV), was the founder of the Peshnozh monastery. In
his youth he went to the Monk Sergei of Radonezh and spent several years under
his guidance; later on, with the blessing of the Monk Sergei he withdrew into a
solitary place and built himself a cell in the forest beyond the River
Yakhroma. Soon in this deep and marshy locale several disciples came to him,
wanting to imitate his life. The Monk Sergei visited him and advised him to
build a monastery and church. The Monk Methodii himself toiled at the
construction of the church and the cells, "on foot carrying"
("pesh nosya") wood along the river, and the monastery from that time
began to be called "the Peshnozh".
In 1391 the Monk
Methodii became hegumen of this monastery. At times he withdrew two versts from
the monastery and here he asceticised in prayer, and here also the Monk Sergei
came to him for spiritual conversation, wherefore this locale received the name
"Beseda" ("Conversation-place").
The Monk Methodii was
buried (+ 1392) at the monastery founded by him. In 1732 over his relics was
erected a church in the name of the Monks Sergei of Radonezh and Methodii of
Peshnozh. The beginning of his local celebration dates to the late XVII - early
XVIII Centuries.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.