Lavrentii Zhilyaev

Lavrentii Zhilyaev was a Russian schemamonk, born around 1830 at Peresukhi, Orel province, into a peasant family. He reposed on 29 August 1866. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Lev Vasilievich in the world, the son of Vasily Platonovich and Maria Dmitrievna, a priest's daughter, he was gentle, amiable and loved by all. He did not go into the street and did not like games, and had an innate interest in learning. From 1848 to 1853 he served in the army as a craftsman and worked out of love, wishing to please everyone; he did not smoke or drink. Many times he looked death in the face, but God preserved him. After the war he decided to go to Athos and in 1860 entered the Skete of St Andrew, where he was soon tonsured into the mantle with the name Lavrentii. He died after a grave illness. When the abbot visited him in the hospital and said, Lavrentii, why are you lying here? Get up, take the blessing, he was always obedient. After his death, a brother saw another deceased monk in a dream and asked how it was there; he answered: glory to God, well, but I am far from Lavrentii, he is incomparably better off.