Ilarii Sapozhnikov

Ilarii Sapozhnikov was a Russian hieromonk of St Panteleimon Monastery, born in 1840 at Tver in a rich merchant family. He reposed on 24 January 1918, after fifty-⁠six uninterrupted years on Athos, and was buried behind the altar of the Pochaev church, as its elder. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Ioakim Ivanovich in the world, the son of Alexandra, until fourteen he led an ordinary life, quiet and fond of solitude. An incident drew him to monasticism: one night, when the others slept, he could not sleep, looked at the plastered wall and seemed to see shadows descending on it and a picture gradually appearing. He came to Athos and stayed at St Panteleimon. He lived there when Russia declared war on Turkey, on 12 April 1877, and noted: by God's grace and the protection of the Mother of God we remained unharmed. He reposed on 24 January 1918.