Zosima of Solovki
Encyclopedia
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
on Bolshoy Solovetsky Island
. Savvatiy died in 1435, and German returned to the continent. Zosima and German travelled again to Solovetsky Islands, and soon monks started to arrive there. These monks considered themselves the disciples of Zosima. Soon he had to build a wooden church and to organize the monks into a monastery. The monastery was subordinate to Eparchy of Novgorod
. The bishop of Novgorod, Iona, twice appointed hegumen
s to the monastery, but these hegumens left without being able to bear the conditions of life in a Northern island. Then he appointed Zosima as a hegumen.
In 1465, Zosima built a new church and transferred the relic
s of Savvatiy to this church. He died in 1478. Already during his tenure, Solovetsky Monastery obtained big investments from Novgorod Republic
and established itself as one of the richest monasteries in Russia.
Since 1547, Zosima 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...
.
The origin of Zosima is not exactly clear. By 1436 his parents were both dead, and he decided to live as a 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...
. In the mouth of the Suma River he met German
German of Solovki
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....
, a monk, who previuously spent several years with Savvatiy
Savvatiy
St. Savvatiy of Solovki was one of the founders of the Solovetsky Monastery....
on Bolshoy Solovetsky Island
Bolshoy Solovetsky Island
Bolshoy Solovetsky Island , or simply Solovetsky Island is the biggest island of the Solovetsky Islands archipelago in the White Sea, northern Russia. The island is home to Solovetsky Monastery, a medieval monastery and a fortress included in the World Heritage list.-Location and geography:The...
. Savvatiy died in 1435, and German returned to the continent. Zosima and German travelled again to Solovetsky Islands, and soon monks started to arrive there. These monks considered themselves the disciples of Zosima. Soon he had to build a wooden church and to organize the monks into a monastery. The monastery was subordinate to 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...
. The bishop of Novgorod, Iona, twice appointed 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...
s to the monastery, but these hegumens left without being able to bear the conditions of life in a Northern island. Then he appointed Zosima as a hegumen.
In 1465, Zosima built a new church and transferred the relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s of Savvatiy to this church. He died in 1478. Already during his tenure, Solovetsky Monastery obtained big investments from Novgorod Republic
Novgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a large medieval Russian state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th centuries, centred on the city of Novgorod...
and established itself as one of the richest monasteries in Russia.
Since 1547, Zosima 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...
.