Ioasaf Donskov

Ioasaf Donskov was a Russian schemaarchimandrite, a former abbot of a monastery at Uralsk, a spiritual elder at St Panteleimon Monastery. He was born in 1816 and reposed on 12 October 1894. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Yakov Petrovich in the world, he was the son of a Cossack of Uralsk. He attended seminary and was a village priest. After his wife's death he entered the monastery of St Nicholas at Uralsk, where he was tonsured into the mantle with the name Ioannikios, became abbot and led it almost twenty years. At sixty-⁠two he gave up the abbacy and in 1878 came to Athos, where the elders of St Panteleimon received him gladly as an elder known throughout Russia. On 29 March 1879 he was tonsured into the schema with the name Ioasaf. He sought solitude with God and, armed with unceasing prayer and sincere humility, reached a spiritual height that helped thousands find the way of salvation. By imperial decree he received the Order of St Anne, third class. He reposed on 12 October 1894.