Euphrosinus of Tver

Holy Venerable Euphrosinus of Tver was a disciple and successor of the Venerable Sabbatius in the leadership of the Sabbatiev Hermitage, and reposed around the year 1460. In the time of his abbacy the Venerable Joseph of Volokolamsk came to the monastery, who noted: I saw in the Sabbatiev Hermitage a holy old hermit named Euphrosinus. He was of the line of the princes of Teprinsk.

He lived in the desert sixty years without leaving. Many monks, princes and boyars came to him for counsel, disturbing his quiet. Then he fled from human talk to Great Novgorod, to Lake Nevo (Ladoga), found an island and lived there some years. The inhabitants around, hearing of the ascetic, began to gather to him with wives and children, and he was forced to hide again, this time in the Sabbatiev Hermitage.

The ruler of that land, Prince Boris Alexandrovich, sent to him his young daughter, then betrothed to the Grand Prince Ivan Vasilievich; archimandrites, abbots and boyars came with her and asked the blessed Euphrosinus to pray for the girl; she was very ill and was carried to the desert in arms. He refused, calling himself unworthy and a sinner. They begged him with tears, saying: If she remains alive through your prayers, father, you will reconcile two principalities.

Seeing that the girl had fallen into a grave illness, the venerable Euphrosinus ordered her carried into the church and prayed with tears and sobbing before the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God. Then he ordered a moleben sung to the Mother of God and to the great wonderworker Nicholas. After the moleben the girl opened her eyes and sat up; those who had brought her lifted her up healthy and the same day took her to her father, glorifying God, who gives grace to His saints.

He is commemorated on 18 July, a movable day, in the Synaxis of the Saints of Tver.