Venerable (Monastic)15th century

Venerable Gregory of Pelsheme

c. 1350s – 1442

Also known as Gregory, Abbot of Pelsheme · Wonderworker of Vologda

A noble-born Russian monk who distributed his inheritance and founded a monastery at Pelsheme, remembered for ascetic life and wonderworking.

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Gregory, Abbot of Pelsheme, Wonderworker of Vologda

Life

Gregory of Pelsheme was a Russian monastic founder of the fifteenth century, born into the Lopotov nobility in the city of Galich in the Kostroma region. According to his life, his parents arranged his marriage when he was about fifteen but died before it could take place, leaving him his inheritance, which he distributed to the poor before taking monastic vows.

He entered the monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos on the shore of Lake Galich, where he was ordained a priest and later served as abbot. Seeking greater seclusion, he moved to Rostov, resided at the monastery of Saint Abramius, and was appointed by Archbishop Dionysius of Rostov to head the Savior (Yakovlev) monastery, which he led for two years before departing.

He eventually settled in the wilderness by the River Pelsheme, where he founded a monastery around 1426. Remembered as an ascetic and wonderworker of the Vologda lands, he was glorified at the Council of 1549 convened by Metropolitan Macarius and is commemorated on September 30.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

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 Gregory, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!

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

Timeline7 momentsReadHide

c. 1350sBirth in GalichGregory is born in the city of Galich, in the Kostroma region, into the Lopotov boyar (noble) family, described as living in wealth and honor.
c. age 15Renounces his inheritanceAfter his parents die before completing his arranged marriage at age fifteen, Gregory distributes his inherited estates to the poor and enters the monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos near Lake Galich, where he is later ordained a priest and becomes abbot.
1418–1425Appointed at RostovAfter moving to Rostov and residing at the monastery of Saint Abramius, he is assigned by Archbishop Dionysius of Rostov to head the Savior (Yakovlev) monastery, which he leads for two years before secretly departing to seek the ascetic Dionysius of Glushitsa in the Sosnovetsk wilderness.
1426Founds the Pelsheme monasteryCrossing the River Pelsheme and planting a cross on its bank, Gregory settles in the wilderness and oversees the building of the first church, dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, whose icons are painted by Saint Dionysius of Glushitsa.
1433–1434Intervention in princely conflictGregory travels to Moscow to urge Prince Yuri Dimitrievich to restore the principality to Basil the Dark, and later confronts Prince Demetrius Shemyaka over violence against the Vologda lands; according to his life, Shemyaka has him thrown from a bridge, but he survives.
September 30, 1442ReposeAccording to the Orthodox Church in America's synaxarion, Gregory reposes on September 30, 1442, and is buried at his monastery, having appointed as his successor the abbot Alexander, whom he had himself tonsured.
1549GlorificationGregory is glorified as a venerable monastic at the Council of 1549 convened by Metropolitan Macarius, which recognized a number of Russian saints for church-wide veneration.

Contributions & Legacy

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Foundation at Pelsheme

Having sought out the ascetic Dionysius of Glushitsa, Gregory withdrew into the wilderness along the River Pelsheme. According to his life, he crossed the river carrying a cross on his shoulders and planted it in a thicket by the bank, marking the site of his new community.

The first church was constructed in 1426 and dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, with its icons painted by Saint Dionysius of Glushitsa. The monastery Gregory founded there became the center of his ascetic labors and later bore his name.

Involvement in Princely Affairs

Gregory's life records that he did not remain wholly apart from the political turmoil of his day. In 1433 he traveled to Moscow to persuade Prince Yuri Dimitrievich to restore the principality to Basil the Dark.

In 1434 he confronted Prince Demetrius Shemyaka over the violence inflicted on the Vologda lands. According to the account, Shemyaka responded by ordering Gregory thrown from a bridge, but he survived the fall.

Repose and Glorification

The Orthodox Church in America's synaxarion states that Gregory reposed on September 30, 1442, and was buried at his monastery, having appointed as his successor the abbot Alexander—the priest Alexiy, whom he had himself tonsured. Some later Russian accounts place his death variously between 1441 and the winter of 1449/50, a few connecting it to the siege of Vologda under Prince Dmitry Shemyaka.

He was glorified in 1549 at the Council convened by Metropolitan Macarius, which recognized a number of Russian saints for church-wide veneration. He is remembered as a wonderworker of the Vologda region, and his feast is kept on September 30.

Companions1 figureShowHide

Of the same circle of Vologda founders.

Venerable DionysiusAbbot of Glushitsa

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