Day of Remembrance of St. Stephen of Makhrishch (27/07)

Venerable Stefan Makhrishchsky — friend and interlocutor of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Originally from Kyiv. He took monastic vows at the Kiev Pechersk Monastery.

As a result of increased persecution of Orthodox Christians by Catholics, seeking silence, Stephen retired to the town of Makhrishche (35 versts from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra) and here, no later than 1358, with the blessing of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, he founded a monastery in honor of the Holy Trinity.

The hatred of the neighboring land owners forced St. Stephen to retire to the Avnezha River, where, 60 versts from Vologda, the saint founded another monastery of the Holy Trinity.

Returning to the Makhrishchi monastery, Saint Stephen established a hostel in it and worked until his death, which followed in 1406.

In 1550, the incorruptible relics of St. Stephen were found, famous for many miracles. One of them probably occurred in 1557, when, through prayer to the monk, a miraculous multiplication of bread by 2000 pilgrims took place, and so many remains were collected that the brethren ate for another three months.

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