Memorial Day of St. Barsanuphius of Tver

October 17 and April 24 are the days of remembrance of Bishop Barsanuphius II of Tver, who is revered as the Kazan miracle worker, who became one of the first missionaries in these lands. The Kazan wonderworker was named John at birth. The boy was born in Serpukhov, where he spent his childhood. He quickly mastered writing and studied with great diligence, but at the age of about seventeen the young man was captured by the Tatars, who, during their next campaign, decided to devastate the villages along the Oka River. John was taken to Crimea, where he lived as a slave for three years. During this time, the young man learned the local language while his father raised funds to buy his son out of slavery. Three years later, Ivan returned to his native land and came to the Andronikov Monastery, where, according to a vow, he became a monk and received a new name. Barsanuphius was known as a very pious monk who led a righteous life. When Barsanuphius was almost fifty years old, Metropolitan Macarius appointed him abbot of the St. Nicholas Pesnoshsky Monastery. A few years later, Ivan the Terrible, who at that time reigned in Rus', visited the Nikolsky Pesnoshsky Monastery. He immediately noticed a talented abbot who could speak fluently in Tatar, and realized that his abilities could be useful in another land. Soon the Kazan diocese was formed. The king issued a decree according to which Barsanuphius was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. Together with German and Gury, he was sent to a new diocese to settle down. Two years later the first monastery was founded here. In it, the archimandrite consecrated the first temple - the stone Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and later the Transfiguration Cathedral. After another seven years, the number of residents of the monastery increased to hundreds. Barsanuphius was well acquainted with Tatar culture. He carried out missionary activities, converting locals to Christianity. The archimandrite was known as a healer who saved people from bodily illnesses. Patients often became Christians after being cured. Bishop Gury soon died. Herman became the new Bishop of Kazan. Barsanuphius was ordained Bishop of Tver and Kashin. The miracle worker led the life of an ascetic until the end of his days. He soon returned to Kazan, where he prayed every night and sewed hoods. After his death, he was buried at the altar of the Transfiguration Cathedral next to St. Gury. The discovery of their relics was made by the future Patriarch Hermogenes. Both bishops were canonized. Subsequently, the relics of Barsanuphius were transferred to another monastery, but at the beginning of the last century they disappeared.