Glory be to our servants. Some of them leave a bright mark on the history of Orthodoxy. These were two ministers whom the church remembers on October 17.
Their life and missionary activities are associated with the conquest of the Kazan Khanate.
Archbishop Guria came to Kazan from Moscow. He founded several monasteries and built dozens of temples. Attracted priests from Moscow, Tver, Vladimir.
Even seriously ill, he did not miss church services. At the end of his life he was brought to the temple on a stretcher.
St. Barsonofy’s missionary activity helped him to gain knowledge of the Tatar language. As a young man, he spent 3 years in captivity, where he learned not only to speak, but also to write in Tatar. Varsonofy actively used his knowledge to evangelize the Tatar population. He also built temples and did charity work. In 1567, he was ordained bishop in Tver. When Varsonophy weakened from old age and disease, he returned to Kazan, to the Savior Monastery. There he went to the Lord in 1576.
In 1595, in Kazan it was decided to build a new stone church on the site of the old, wooden one.
During the construction work, two coffins were dug up. Their well-preserved appearance filled Archbishop Hermogenes with the courage to open the lids. They did not do this secretly, but with a large crowd of people. Dozens of people became convinced with their own eyes that the relics of the saints were imperishable, and myrrho poured out of the relics of Archbishop Guria.
After anointing them, the patients were immediately healed.
An unusual incident was reported to the king. Fedor Mikhailovich. He ordered the relics to be kept in the new cathedral, on the south side of the altar, in a special chapel. Thanks to the royal donations, the new church was richly decorated, and 2 arks were made to store relics for the money collected by parishioners.
But over time, the saints were separated. Now the relics of Archbishop Guria are kept in the church of St. Fyodor (Muromsky), in Kazan.
Remembrance days
17 October
Charity foundHoly Land.
Soul investment!
