Therapont of Belozersk

Saint Therapont of Belozersk
Iconof St. Therapont
Abbot, Venerable
Born	1337 Volokolamsk
Died	27 May 1426
Honored in	Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	1549
Feast	27 May 27 December (uncovering of relics)

Therapont of Belozersk(1331 – 27 May 1426) (Russian:Ферапонт Бело(е)зерский,Therapont Belo(e)zersky), also known asTherapont of Mozhaysk,known to the world asFeodor Poskochin,was a Russian Orthodoxmonkcredited with the foundation of theFerapontov Monasteryin Northern Russia, now close toKirillovinVologda Oblast,and theLuzhetsky MonasteryinMozhayskclose toMoscow.Therapont is venerated as asaintof theRussian Orthodox Church.

Life

Therapont was born as Fyodor Poskochin in a noble family inVolokolamskin the 1330s. As an adult, he decided to become a monk and arrived to theSimonov Monasteryin Moscow.There he get acquainted with Cyril, who was to become laterCyril of White Lake.Apparently, Therapont was once commissioned by the monastery to travel to the North of Russia, to theLake Beloyearea. At a certain point, Cyril decided to leave the monastery and seek for a remote area where he could become a hermit. Ferapont agreed to accompany him and suggested that the Lake Beloye area would be most appropriate for that.

Between 1390 and 1397 Cyril and Therapont left the Simonov monastery and travelled north toLake Siverskoye,where they stayed in the place which eventually becameKirillo-Belozersky Monastery.For a year they lived together, and then Therapont left and moved to a location in about a dozen kilometers to the northeast now known as Ferapontovo. 1398 is considered as the year when the Ferapontov Monastery was founded. At the beginning, there were not more than 15 monks living in the monastery. Ferapont refused to become ahegumen,but lived for ten years at the monastery.

The monastery was located in thePrincipality of Beloozero,which at the time was administered jointly with thePrincipality of Mozhaysk.The prince,Andrey of Mozhaysk,resided in Mozhaysk, and was a brother ofVasily,the Grand Prince of Moscow. He was also one of the main sponsors of the monastery. In 1408, he sent a letter to Therapont urging him to come to Mozhaysk, and Therapont was obliged to obey. Even though Therapont, after arriving to Mozhaysk, expressed very clearly his wish to return to White Lake, the prince never let him go. They made a deal, and Therapont founded Luzhetsky Monastery in Mozhaysk. He died in the monastery in 1426.

Veneration

Therapont has been venerated as a saint since 1549.He is commemorated on 27 May, the date of his repose, and 27 December, the date hisrelicswere discovered.