Blessed Lavrentii, Fool-for-Christ and Kaluzhsk Wonderworker
Commemorated on August 10
Blessed Lavrentii,
Fool-for-Christ and Kaluzhsk Wonderworker, lived at the beginning of the
XVI Century at the distance of an half-verst from old Kaluga near a forest
church in honour of the Nativity of Christ, set upon an high hill.
There was a long
underground entrance from his dwelling to the church, where he heard
Divine-services. He lived also at the home of the Kaluzhsk prince Simeon
Ioannovich. It is conjectured, that Blessed Lavrentii was descended from the
noble Khitrov boyar lineage, since his name initiates their lineage memorial at
the Peremyshl'sk Liotykov monastery, situated in the Kaluzhsk diocese. Blessed
Lavrentii went barefoot both winter and summer, in a shirt and sheepskin coat.
By the deeds of his own doing he so raised himself up, that while still alive
he was glorified by gifts of grace.
When the Crimean
Tatars fell upon Kaluga in May 1512, Blessed Lavrentii, then in the home of the
prince, suddenly shouted out in a loud voice: "Give me my sharp axe, for
the curs fall upon prince Simeon and it is necessary to defend him!" Saying
this, he seized the axe and left. Suddenly having come on board ship next the
prince, Righteous Lavrentii inspired and encouraged the soldiers, and in that
very hour they defeated the enemy. He is depicted in icons with an axe in his
right hand, set upon a long axe-handle. It is certain that prince Simeon (+
1518), owing him his safety, built in his memory a monastery on the place of
the saint's deeds.
Blessed Lavrentii
died on 10 August 1515, evidently, on his nameday. It is known, that the memory
of the saint is honoured also on 8 July.
Blessed Lavrentii was
glorified, it seems, in the second half of the XVI Century. Thus, tsar Ivan the
Terrible in a gramota of donation to the monastery (1565) wrote:
"Monastery of the Nativity of Christ, wherein lieth Lavrentii,
Fool-for-Christ". In the Life, the first posthumous miracle is recorded
under the year 1621 – the healing of the paralysed boyar Kologrivov, who
became well after doing a molieben to the saint.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.