German of Solovki
Encyclopedia
St. German of Solovki was one of the founders of the Solovetsky Monastery
. In total, he lived in Solovetsky Islands
, at the time, the most remote location, for about 50 years.
In 1429 German, who was presumably of Karelian
origin, met a monk, Savvatiy
, who previously settled near a chapel
on the Vyg River
. They were both looking for a desolate place, to avoid the crowds. They sailed together to Solovetsky Islands
, where they lived as hermit
s. In 1435 Savvatiy died, and German returned to the continent, where in 1436 he met Zosima
. Together with Zosima, he returned to the islands, and, when eventually the monks started to arrive there, Solovetsky Monastery
was founded. Zosima eventually became the hegumen
of the monastery, which was subordinate to the Eparchy of Novgorod
.
In 1479, after the death of Zosima, the new hegumen, Arseniy, sent German to Novgorod. German died in Novgorod at the same year, and his relics were to be moved back to Solovetsky Monastery. However, the monks did not manage to do it during the season, and buried German on Svir River
. In 1484, the relics were transferred to Solovetsky Monastery.
Since 1692, German is venered
as a saint
by the Russian Orthodox Church
.
Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery was the greatest citadel of Christianity in the Russian North before being turned into a special Soviet prison and labor camp , which served as a prototype for the GULag system. Situated on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea, the monastery braved many changes of fortune...
. In total, he lived in Solovetsky Islands
Solovetsky Islands
The Solovetsky Islands , or Solovki , are an archipelago located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, Russia. The islands are served by the Solovki Airport. Area: ....
, at the time, the most remote location, for about 50 years.
In 1429 German, who was presumably of Karelian
Karelians
The Karelians are a Baltic-Finnic ethnic group living mostly in the Republic of Karelia and in other north-western parts of the Russian Federation. The historic homeland of Karelians includes also parts of present-day Eastern Finland and the formerly Finnish territory of Ladoga Karelia...
origin, met a monk, Savvatiy
Savvatiy
St. Savvatiy of Solovki was one of the founders of the Solovetsky Monastery....
, who previously settled near a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
on the Vyg River
Vyg River
The Vyg is a river in Republic of Karelia. Consists of the Upper Vyg, 135 km long, discharging into Lake Vygozero, and the Lower Vyg, 102 km long, flowing from Lake Vygozero and discharging into Onega Bay of the White Sea near Belomorsk. The Upper Vyg flows through several small lakes in...
. They were both looking for a desolate place, to avoid the crowds. They sailed together to Solovetsky Islands
Solovetsky Islands
The Solovetsky Islands , or Solovki , are an archipelago located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, Russia. The islands are served by the Solovki Airport. Area: ....
, where they lived as hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
s. In 1435 Savvatiy died, and German returned to the continent, where in 1436 he met Zosima
Zosima of Solovki
St. Zosima of Solovki was one of the founders of the Solovetsky Monastery.The origin of Zosima is not exactly clear. By 1436 his parents were both dead, and he decided to live as a hermit. In the mouth of the Suma River he met German, a monk, who previuously spent several years with Savvatiy...
. Together with Zosima, he returned to the islands, and, when eventually the monks started to arrive there, Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery was the greatest citadel of Christianity in the Russian North before being turned into a special Soviet prison and labor camp , which served as a prototype for the GULag system. Situated on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea, the monastery braved many changes of fortune...
was founded. Zosima eventually became the hegumen
Hegumen
Hegumen, hegumenos, igumen, or ihumen is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church or Eastern Catholic Churches, similar to the one of abbot. The head of a convent of nuns is called hegumenia or ihumenia . The term means "the one who is in charge", "the leader" in...
of the monastery, which was subordinate to the Eparchy of Novgorod
Archbishop of Novgorod
The Archbishop of Novgorod is the head of the eparchy of Novgorod the Great and is one of the oldest offices in the Russian Orthodox Church. The archbishops have, in fact, been among the most important figures in medieval Russian history and culture and their successors continued to play...
.
In 1479, after the death of Zosima, the new hegumen, Arseniy, sent German to Novgorod. German died in Novgorod at the same year, and his relics were to be moved back to Solovetsky Monastery. However, the monks did not manage to do it during the season, and buried German on Svir River
Svir River
Svir is a river in the north-east of Leningrad Oblast, Russia. It flows from Lake Onega west to Lake Ladoga, thus connecting the two largest lakes of Europe. It is the largest river flowing into Lake Ladoga....
. In 1484, the relics were transferred to Solovetsky Monastery.
Since 1692, German is venered
Venerable
The Venerable is used as a style or epithet in several Christian churches. It is also the common English-language translation of a number of Buddhist titles.-Roman Catholic:...
as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
by the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
.