Basil Seleznev

Basil Seleznev was a Russian hieromonk of St Panteleimon Monastery, an icon painter, born at Voronezh. He reposed on 27 November 1878, of dropsy. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Vladimir Dmitrievich Seleznev in the world, he entered St Panteleimon in 1851 and was tonsured into the mantle in 1852. He attached himself at once to the confessor Hieronymus and was one of his best disciples, receiving many spiritual gifts. He was ordained hierodeacon on 3 July 1856 and hieromonk on 8 September 1857. Having a gift for drawing, he worked as an icon painter and set up the monastery's first icon workshop, gathering several gifted monks. In 1867 he painted several icons for the church of St Panteleimon. He died on 27 November 1878; after three years, by Athonite custom, his bones were dug up, and when his yellow skull was brought to Father Hieronymus, he kissed it and said: See, we used to judge him, but the Lord is well pleased with him.