Venerable Martinian (+1483) and Galaction of Belozersk

The Venerable Martinian of Belozersk (in the world Michael) was born in 1370 in the village of Berezniki. The saint was thirteen when he ran away from home, came to a monastery and became a disciple of the Venerable Cyril of Belozersk (commemorated 9 June). Full of divine zeal, the young Martinian imitated his teacher and obeyed him in everything. In the monastery he learned to read and write, and then, with his teacher’s blessing, took up the copying of books. Time passed, and the saint was ordained first hierodeacon and then hieromonk. After the death of the Venerable Cyril (+1427) the blessed Martinian withdrew to an uninhabited island in Lake Vozhe, where monks who wished to labour under his guidance gradually gathered. The holy father built them a church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and composed a rule for them. Time passed, and the brothers of the Ferapontov monastery asked the Venerable Martinian to be their superior. While he was hegumen, spiritual life flourished in this monastery. Later Martinian became superior of the monastery of Sergius of Radonezh.

In 1455 the venerable father returned again to the Ferapontov monastery; in the last years of his life he was gravely ill and could not walk, and his disciples led him to church. The saint died at the age of eighty-five. In 1514 his incorrupt relics were uncovered.

The Venerable Galaction of Belozersk lived in the Ferapontov monastery and was a disciple and novice of the Venerable Martinian. The saint cared for his aged teacher like a father, and when he grew very weak, carried him to church on his own shoulders. Seeing his disciple’s spiritual growth, Martinian blessed him for the hard labour of foolishness for Christ. Through labour hidden from human eyes the blessed father attained spiritual perfection and was granted by the Lord the gift of clairvoyance.

The Venerable Galaction died in 1506 and was buried at the feet of his teacher, Martinian of Belozersk, in the Ferapontov monastery.