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Barlaam
Icon of Barlaam, 16th century
Died6 November 1192/1193
Khutyn
Venerated in Eastern Orthodox Church
Feast6 November

Barlaam or Varlaam of Khutyn ( Russian: Варлаам Хутынский; secular name: Aleksa or Aleksei; [1] died 13 November [ O.S. 6 November] 1192/1193) [2] was a Russian abbot. He founded the Khutyn Monastery.

Life

He was born into a wealthy family from Novgorod. [1] After the death of his parents, he became a hermit on the Volkhov and handed all of his inheritance to the poor. [1] He went to live in solitary at Khutyn, where he built a wooden chapel. [1]

At this time, he had gained many followers as his reputation for holiness was spreading. [2] So great were their numbers that he founded a monastery, the Khutyn Monastery, which was dedicated to Christ's transfiguration. [1] He also took the name of Barlaam (Varlaam), and among the benefactors of the monastery was Yaroslav, the prince of Novgorod. [2]

Barlaam died on 6 November 1192 or 1193, and his grave became a site for pilgrimage. [3] [2] Prior to his death, he had nominated a monk by the name of Antony to succeed him. [2] Barlaam's relics were enshrined in 1452 and the Serbian monk Pachomius wrote about his life. [2] He is commemorated in Russian liturgy when bread and wine is being prepared. [2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Butler & Burns 1995, p. 47.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Butler & Burns 1995, p. 48.
  3. ^ "ВАРЛААМ ХУТЫНСКИЙ - Древо". drevo-info.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-06-18.

Bibliography

External links