The Monk Roman of Kirzhachsk
Commemorated on July 29
The Monk Roman of
Kirzhachsk was a co-ascetic and student of the Monk Sergei, Hegumen of
Radonezh (Comm. 25 September and 5 July). The Monks Sergei and Roman in the
forests of Vladimir governance at the River Kirzhach built there a church in
honour of the Annunciation of the MostHoly Mother of God, and established a new
monastery (in 1371). Three years later, with the blessing of Saint Alexei,
Metropolitan of Moscow (Comm. 12 February), the Monk Sergei returned to the
Troitsky-Trinity monastery, and the Monk Roman remained to head the
newly-created wilderness monastery.
Ordained to the
priestly dignity by Saint Alexei, the new head of the Annunciation monastery
with great zeal fulfilled the precepts of his spiritual father and teacher –
the Monk Sergei. A zealous ascetic, a good and demanding instructor, the Monk
Roman was an example for all the brethren.
The saint died on 29
July 1392 and was buried in the Annunciation temple. In the manuscripts of the
Saints, the Monk Roman is numbered amongst the Saints and is called a
wonderworker.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.