Tag: St Demetrius of Rostov

The Venerable Paphnutius of Borovsk, known in the world as Parthenius, lived during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. His father was named John. At the age of twenty, Parthenius fled his father’s house in secret and took refuge in a monastery. In the year 1414, he was tonsured a monk in the Monastery of the Protection at Vysotsky in the town of Borovsk, and he was named Paphnutius. Upon the death of the monastery’s abbot, the venerable one was elected to the position. In 1426, he was ordained a priest by Photius, Metropolitan of Kiev. At the age of fifty-one, the venerable one fell gravely ill and retired as abbot, having received the great angelic schema.

Following his recovery, on the feast of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-bearer, the 23rd of April in the year 1444, he departed from the monastery and fled to the banks of the Protva River for asceticism and stillness. Before long, other monks followed him, and thus a new monastery was established. The venerable one’s primary concern was the building of a new stone church dedicated to the Nativity of the Theotokos.

The venerable one was an example of simplicity and self-restraint. He possessed the poorest cell, and his food was very simple and minimal. From the monastery’s daily tasks, the venerable one chose the most arduous: he cut and carried wood, and he dug and watered the garden. That which distinguished him, however, was his love for the liturgical life of the Church and for the divine services.

The venerable one foretold his own death. He offered his final prayer, blessed his brethren, and fell asleep in peace in the year 1477.

Apolytikion (Troparion), Tone 4

By the radiance of thy life thou didst enlighten thy fatherland; in prayers and fasts thou wast filled with the gifts of the Divine Spirit. And having struggled well in this temporal life, thou didst open tender mercies to all the sorrowing and wast a defender of the poor. Wherefore, we pray thee, O Father Paphnutius, pray to Christ God that He may save our souls.

Kontakion, Tone Plagal 4 (8)

Enlightened by divine effulgence, O Father, thou didst acquire an ascetic way of life, O venerable one, a most good instructor for monks and a fair adornment of ascetics. Wherefore, the Lord, seeing thy labours, enriched thee with the gift of miracles, for thou dost pour forth healings. And we, rejoicing, cry out to thee: Rejoice, Father Paphnutius!