Azarias Poptsov

Azarias Poptsov was a Russian monk of St Panteleimon Monastery, born at Vyatka, a seminary graduate and the creator of the Rossikon library. He reposed on 4 April 1878, of inflammation of the stomach. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Alexander Ivanovich Poptsov in the world, he studied theology at the Vyatka seminary and taught Greek for a time at a school. At the seminary he met the Athonite Sergius Vesnin and was fired by his book about Athos, hoping to reach the garden of the Mother of God. He reached Athos on 3 November 1851, at Rossikon, where he was tonsured into the mantle on 17 December 1852. He was secretary at the Russian consulate in Thessaloniki, then choir singer, master of the typikon and librarian. The confessor Hieronymus noticed his penetrating mind and lively humour. He can be called the creator of the Rossikon library. He bowed to the ground before a man, explaining that every person is a temple of God. He prepared a worthy disciple, Father Matthew (Olshansky), with whom he corresponded intensively during his stay in Constantinople.