Saint
Gennadios of Kostroma and Liubimograd was born in the city of
Mogilev into a rich family. Even during his early years Gregory displayed
love for the church, and his frequent visits to monasteries evoked the
dismay of his parents. Gregory, however, was firmly resolved to devote
himself to God, and changing into tattered clothing, he secretly left his
parental home and journeyed to Moscow.
He visited the
holy places in Moscow, but he did not find it suitable in spirit and so set
out to the Novgorod region. The destiny of the future ascetic was decided by
an encounter with St. Alexander of Svir. With his blessing, Gregory went to
the Vologda forest to St. Cornelius of Komel, and was tonsured by him with
the name Gennadios. Together with St. Cornelius, Gennadios moved on to the
Kostroma forest. Here, on the shores of Lake Sura, in about the year 1529,
there emerged the monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord, afterwards
called "the Gennadiev monastery". Having become igumen, St. Gennadios did
not slacken his monastic efforts, and together with the brethren he went out
to the monastery tasks: he chopped wood, carried firewood, made candles and
baked prosphora. He also wore heavy chains. One of his favorite tasks was
the painting of icons, with which he adorned his new monastery.
For his holy life
St. Gennadios received from the Lord the gift of clairvoyance and
wonderworking. Journeying to Moscow on monastic affairs, at the house of the
nobleman Roman Zakharin, the saint predicted to his daughter Anastasia that
she would become Tsaritsa. Indeed, Tsar Ivan the Terrible chose her as his
wife.
The Life of St.
Gennadios was written by his disciple, Iguman Alexei, between the years
1584-1587. In it was inserted his spiritual testament, dictated by St.
Gennadios himself. In it he commands the monks to observe the monastery
Rule, to toil constantly, to be at peace with everyone, and to preserve the
books collected at the monastery, while striving to understand their
meaning. He said, "Strive towards the light, and shun the darkness."
St. Gennadios died
on January 23, 1565, and was glorified by the Church on August 19, 1646.
