Память преподобного отца нашего Ферапонта, Белозерского чудотворца

This reverend father, our Ferapont, came from the Moscow region, from the city of Volok Lamsky 3480. He was the son of pious parents named Poskochin and in the world bore the name Theodora. Having reached adulthood, he was filled with the fear of God and wished to withdraw from the world. Leaving his home and parents, he came to the glorious city of Moscow and in the Simonov Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos 3481 accepted monasticism, and he was given the name Feraponta. After this, remaining in obedience, prayer and fasting, he labored in this monastery for many years. One day, for some monastic needs, he was sent as an archimandrite to the region of White Lake 3482, examined the places there, fell in love with them very much and returned to his monastery. According to the arrangement of Divine Providence, it happened that in this monastery, remaining in silence, the Monk Kirill, later the Belozersk wonderworker, was located, and at that time he was awarded a vision of the Most Holy Theotokos, who commanded him to go to the countries of White Lake, as is described in more detail in his life 3483. Reverends Cyril and Ferapont, having agreed, left the Simonov Monastery together and came to the countries of the White Lake. Having walked around all the deserted places there, they came to the place where the Cyril Monastery is now located 3484. Here the Monk Cyril told Ferapont about the appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos that had happened to him, and they began to build a cell for themselves at this place. But the Monk Ferapont did not live long with the Monk Cyril. He soon left him and found a place between two lakes that he liked. He began to clear it and built himself a cell. After this, monks began to gather to him, built a monastery and built a church in it in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 3485. The Monk Ferapont often went to the Monk Cyril for spiritual conversations and to organize monastic life, since he lived not far from his monastery, at a distance of only twelve fields, and received great benefit from him. This is how the saints spent their lives in God. As a result of such a virtuous life, their fame reached the ears of the rulers of that country and even the Grand Duke Andrei Dimitrievich himself, whose inheritance included the regions of White Lake. Hearing about the holy ascetics, the prince came to great joy that such saints had appeared in his domain, glorified God and gave rich gifts from his treasury for the construction of monasteries. It happened that the prince's governor in the Belozersk country was a close boyar of the prince. He visited the monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos, saw the Venerable Elder Ferapont, talked with him and fell in love with him very much. Returning then to Mozhaisk, he told about the venerable prince, and the latter was greatly touched by this story, since he was very pious and loving of God. Some time after this, the prince had a strong desire to establish a monastery in his city of Mozhaisk, where he had his princely residence. He turned to his boyars for advice on where to find such a husband for whom he would arrange a monastery, and the boyars reminded him of Blessed Ferapont, saying that for this holy cause he would not find another, more experienced person. Then the prince sent one of his nobles with a letter to the holy elder and gifts for him, asking him not to refuse his request. The saint, having heard the prince's request, seriously considered it and informed the brethren about it, and the brethren advised him to fulfill the prince's request. The monk obeyed the will of the brethren and, taking with him one of the monks, came to Prince Andrei. The prince received the holy elder and his companion with great honor and began to ask him to look for a place to build a monastery. The monk refused this for a long time, begging the prince to let him go to his monastery, but he could not refuse and, submitting to the will of the prince, he went and found a convenient and beautiful place 3486 near the Moscow River, at a distance of one field from the city of Mozhaisk. Then, together with the prince, taking a blessing from the bishop, they built a church in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the same name as the church of the first monastery of the monk, built all the buildings there according to monastery custom, beautifully decorated them and gathered monks 3487. The prince highly revered this monastery, more than other monasteries located nearby. He obtained the rank of archimandrite for his abbot, made the Monk Ferapont the first abbot and carefully cared for his old age. After this, the monk, having lived the rest of his life in a godly manner, in extreme old age departed to the Lord, whom he loved from his youth, and was buried with honors in this monastery. Glory to our God now, always and forever. Volok Lamsky, otherwise called simply Volok, the current district town of the Moscow province of Volokolamsk, was founded by Novgorod colonists on the Gorodenka River, a tributary of the Lama, and existed back in 1135. In ancient times this city was very large and populous, but now it is an insignificant town with a population of 1000 people. Simonov Monastery, named after the area near the Moscow River, named Simonovo, was founded around 1370 by the disciple and nephew of St. Sergius of Radonezh of Rostov, who built the first church in it in the name of the Most Holy Theotokos, in honor of Her glorious Nativity. His memory is celebrated on November 28 White Lake or Beloozero is located in the current Novgorod province. The Monk Cyril was tonsured by the Monk Theodore, the founder of the Simonov Moscow monastery. After Theodore was removed from the throne of Rostov Archbishop, in 1390 he was elected archimandrite of the monastery, but did not remain in this position for long. Confused by the fact that rich and noble people often visited him, he secluded himself in his former cell and tried to remain silent, but even then his soul yearned for complete solitude and silence in a deserted place. His memory is celebrated on June 9. This place is located near Mount Maura, not far from the Sheksna River. The monastery was founded in 1397 on the northern shore of Lake Siverskoye. This monastery, now called Belozersky Ferapontov, was founded in 1398 on the elevated shore of Lake Borodavskoye, 14 versts from the present city of Kirillov. This place was called Luzhki, from which the monastery began to be called Luzhetsky. The Monk Ferapont died at about 90 years of age, on May 27, 1426, having lived in the Luzhetsky Monastery for 18 years. His glorification began at the end of the 15th century, and he was canonized at the Moscow Council in 1547. His relics rest hidden in the cathedral church of the Luzhetsky Monastery, and in the Belozersk monastery a church is dedicated to his name. You might be interested in: