Venerable (Monastic)16th century

Venerable Therapon Abbot of Monza

died 1597

Also known as Therapon of Monza

An ascetic connected with Kostroma and the river Monza, of hidden origin, who labored in holiness and was venerated locally as a wonderworker.

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Therapon, Abbot of Monza

Life

Therapon of Monza was a sixteenth-century Russian ascetic remembered as the founder-patron of a small monastery on the River Monza in the Galich land, within the present-day Kostroma region. According to tradition his early life is obscure, and he is reckoned among the Synaxis of the Saints of Kostroma. He is venerated as a Venerable (monastic) wonderworker and is commemorated on May 27 and December 12 (his Kostroma synaxis listing also records December 1).

His recorded life centers on a steady monastic discipline of solitary prayer in the forest and the nightly copying of spiritually useful books, together with a reputation for prophecy and miracles that arose even before his repose in 1597. After his death the monastery on the Monza came to bear his name.

Kontakion & Troparion3 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 8

Having devoted yourself to God from your youth, O Venerable one,
loving Him most of all, you followed Him with all your heart and love,
you disdained perishable earthly goods, you dwelt in the wilderness,
and in it you struggled well against the intrigues of invisible enemies
and, like a shining sun, shone within the boundaries of the Galich land,
from there, rejoicing, you passed to the Heavenly abodes,
and now, standing with the Angels before the throne of the Master,
remember us, who honor your memory, that we may cry out to you: “Rejoice, Therápon, our Father.”

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 8

Having been enlightened with the love of Christ, O divinely-wise one,
you emulated the virtues of Basil the Blessed in all things,
and despising bodily pleasure, you dwelt in the wilderness,
there you especially labored in prayerful singing, vigil and fasting.
Therefore, Christ has enriched you with the gift of miracles.
Remember us who honor your most illustrious memory, O Venerable Father Therápon,
and pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 8

By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile,
and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance.
By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe!
O our holy father Therapon, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

16th centuryAscetic beginnings in MoscowBy tradition Therapon began his ascetic labors in Moscow before seeking a more settled monastic life.
16th centuryTonsure at KostromaHe moved to the monastery of the Exaltation of the Cross at Kostroma, where he received monastic tonsure.
16th centurySettlement on the River MonzaHe transferred to the monastery founded by the monks Adrian and Paphnutius near the River Monza, about 25 versts from Galich, where he labored until the end of his life.
1597ReposeTherapon reposed in 1597; the synaxarion relates that he had foretold the famine that struck in 1601.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributionsReadHide

Monastic Life and Labors

The sources describe a disciplined eremitic routine within a cenobitic community. Each day, with the blessing of the igumen, Therapon withdrew into a forest thicket to pray, and by night he read and transcribed copies of spiritually useful books, joining manuscript work to a life of wilderness solitude, prayer, fasting, and vigil.

Tradition records that he held Blessed Basil of Moscow, the fool-for-Christ, in deep regard, calling him his friend although the two are said never to have met in person. The OCA notes that his early life is unknown and that he may himself have been a fool-for-Christ.

Veneration and Legacy

By tradition Therapon was glorified with the gift of wonderworking during his own lifetime, and the synaxarion relates that he foretold the famine of 1601. After his repose the monastery on the River Monza took his name and preserved his memory.

He is numbered among the Synaxis of the Saints of Kostroma, a commemoration of the saints of the Kostroma diocese established in 1981 and kept on January 23, the feast of Saint Gennadius of Kostroma.

Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Friend in spirit: Therapon held the fool-for-Christ of Moscow in deep regard and called him his friend, though tradition holds the two never met in person.

Blessed Basilof Moscow the Fool-for-Christ

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints