Ieron Nosov

Ieron Nosov was a Russian schemaarchimandrite, born in 1829 in the village of Lokhodomovo, Kostroma province, a disciple of Hieronymus at St Panteleimon and the founder and, for thirty-⁠seven years, abbot of New Athos (Simono-⁠Kananitsky) Monastery in the Caucasus. He reposed in 1912. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Ivan Vasilievich in the world, he was sent by his parents to St Petersburg, to a merchant, whose high regard he won by honesty and diligence, so that the merchant wished to give him his only daughter. Already in childhood a fool for Christ, Ivanushka, had prophesied for him the road to Athos. So he finally reached the Holy Mountain, where under the confessor Hieronymus, the rule of the monks and unconditional obedience he was formed. He was sent to the Caucasus, where he built New Athos Monastery; in 1880 he was elected abbot. He was able to visit Athos only twice: in 1880 and in 1889, forty days after the death of the abbot Macarius. In thirty-⁠seven years of leadership he showed how well Athonite life had prepared him; he took care to plant among the brethren the spirit of humility, guilelessness, purity of thought and peace. Many pilgrims of all ranks asked his advice. In April 1912 he caught a severe cold while overseeing the building of a new church on Mount Iverski, and asked to be released from the abbacy. He was buried by the church of the Holy Apostle Simon.