Reverend Stefan Ozerski

In the land of Vologda, at the turn of the 15-16 centuries, an amazing boy was born in the family of a servant close to the local princes. They called him Stefan, and he grew up in an equally unusual young man. Stately, attractive, well-educated Stefan was the hope of his parents. They predicted his career, positions and money, and he read religious books and admired the deserters who performed their prayerful feat in solitude.
Realizing that his parents could not be persuaded, Stefan secretly left his father’s home and took tonsure in the Glushitsky monastery. For spiritual growth and gaining experience, he was blessed by the hegumen on a trip to the monasteries. The road led Stefan to the Tikhvin monastery, but a huge number of pilgrims and the fuss associated with their stay did not come to his heart. Then he took the Holy Gifts, 2 icons (the Mother of God and Nicholas the Wonderworker) and secluded himself in the impenetrable forests of Belozera.
There he spent several years alone. One day, Stefan had a vision. He saw the Most Holy Virgin and St. Nicholas, who ordered him to establish a monastery there.
Immediately after that, other monks began to come to the forest wilderness in unknown ways and build cells nearby. Then they built a chapel, and soon decided to build a church and found a community. Stefan was chosen abbot. For permission to build a monastery, Stefan went to Moscow. The path is far, not easy, but the Virgin accompanied her chosen one, Nicholas the Good-godnik opened all the doors.
In Moscow, Stefan was elevated to the rank of priest, gave a certificate for the opening of the monastery, gifted with utensils and money.
Upon their return, the brothers cut down the wooden church. Dedicated it to Nicholas the Pleasant. There was a painter among the monks. Yes, not simple, but a student of Andrei Rublev. Brother Guri painted icons for the temple. Tradition also states that he left 2 images of Stephen himself.
St. Stephen ruled the monastery to a very old age. I felt my death beforehand. He clothed himself in a mourning garment, communed the Holy Gifts and quietly departed to the Lord. This happened in 1542.
At the place of burial the brothers built a chapel. There at night they saw burning candles, which none of the inhabitants of the monastery lit.

In the same year, the Vologda region was attacked by the Horde, the monastery was looted, the church and the chapel were burned down. On the site of a wooden temple, the brethren built a stone Nikolsky temple and the relics of Stephen were covered under a bush. People flocked to the place of tranquility, from a remote forest corner the monastery turned into a lively place.
But 18th century church reforms led to its closure.

Remembrance days