Venerable (Monastic) 16th century

Venerable Longinus of Koryazhemsk

d. February 10, 1540

Also known as Longinus of Koryazhma, Vologda

A monk who founded the Koryazhemsk Monastery in the Vologda wilderness, laboring in austerity; reposed in 1540.

Feast Day

February 10

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Longinus of Koryazhemsk

Life

Longinus of Koryazhemsk (also rendered Longin or Loggin) was a sixteenth-century Russian monastic who founded the Koryazhemsk Nikolayev Monastery in the Vologda wilderness of the Russian North. He began his ascetic life at the monastery of Saint Paul of Obnora, where he became respected among the brethren as an experienced elder in the monastic life.

Seeking greater solitude, he settled with a companion named Simon near the mouth of the Koryazhema (Bolshaya Koryazhemka) River, roughly ten to fifteen kilometers from Solvychegodsk, where the two lived in austerity, sustaining themselves by their own handiwork. As his reputation spread, other monks gathered around him, and a community formed with Longinus as its first abbot. He reposed on February 10, 1540, and is commemorated on February 10 and October 16.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide

Early 16th century Monastic beginnings under Saint Paul of Obnora Longinus entered the Pavlo-Obnorsky Monastery, founded by Saint Paul of Obnora, where he gained the respect of the brethren as an experienced elder in the monastic life. Accounts also record an intermediate stay at the Borisoglebsk Sol'vychegodsk monastery.
c. 1530s Settlement on the Koryazhema River Seeking solitude, Longinus journeyed with his companion Simon along the Vychegda toward the mouth of the Koryazhema River, roughly ten to fifteen kilometers from Solvychegodsk. There they established cells and a chapel and lived ascetically by their own labor. Simon later departed for the Soyga River region, becoming known as Simon of Soiga (d. 1562).
1535 Founding of the Koryazhemsk Monastery As monks gathered around him, Longinus founded the Koryazhemsk Nikolayev Monastery, building a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker along with a refectory and other buildings, and serving as its first abbot. He is said to have personally dug a well near the church.
February 10, 1540 Repose Longinus reposed and, in accord with his last wishes, was buried near the entrance to the church, described as 'at the staircase of the church porch.'
c. 1556–1557 Translation of his relics into the church About sixteen years after his repose, his remains were transferred into the church itself. Accounts relate that the voivode Prince Vladimir Rostovsky had the grave relocated following a reported miraculous healing. A liturgical service and a biographical account were composed after his lifetime.

Contributions & Legacy

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Foundation of the Koryazhemsk Monastery

The community Longinus founded became the Koryazhemsk Nikolayev (Nikolaevsky) Monastery, established in 1535 at the mouth of the Bolshaya Koryazhemka River, which gave the later town of Koryazhma its name. Longinus served as its first abbot (hegumen) and built its first church, dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, together with a refectory and other necessary buildings.

Tradition records that Longinus personally dug a well near the church, a detail preserved in his life.

Relics & Shrines

Longinus was buried, according to his own wishes, near the entrance to the church. About sixteen years after his repose (c. 1556–1557), his remains were translated into the church itself. On March 18, 1872, his relics were moved to the warm Spassky (Savior) Church.

The monastery developed several stone churches over the centuries: the wooden church was replaced by a stone structure in 1665, and the Church of the Holy Mandylion (1746) remains among the oldest stone churches in Arkhangelsk Oblast. Between 1907 and 1912 a Church of Saint Longin was built, dedicated to the monastery's founder. Following the October Revolution of 1917 the monastery was closed and its lands converted to agricultural use.

Miracles & Traditions

Traditional Accounts: The translation of Longinus's relics in 1557 is connected in the accounts to a reported miraculous healing, after which the voivode Prince Vladimir Rostovsky is said to have had the grave relocated.

Veneration

Longinus is commemorated on February 10 and October 16. In 2018 he was included in the Assembly (Sobor) of Arkhangelsk Saints. A special liturgical service and a biographical account were composed after his lifetime.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org)