Lazar Deminskii

Lazar Deminskii was a Russian schemahierodeacon born in 1830 in Ryazan province, a former cell attendant of St Theophan the Recluse, who died as a hermit near Old Rossikon on 13 August 1903. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Alexander Ilyich in the world, he dreamt from youth of entering a monastery. In 1866 he entered Vysha hermitage, where he became cell attendant of St Theophan, then in seclusion; from him he received tonsure into the mantle with the name Apollos and ordination as hierodeacon. He copied many of the saint's writings and helped him prepare his books for the press. Theophan knew his longing for stillness and his secret wish to struggle on Athos, and in 1873 blessed him for the hermit life. On Athos he lived near Old Rossikon, making a hundred prostrations a day; he did not tend a garden, and food was brought to him by the brethren of Old Rossikon. He reposed on 13 August 1903, on the eve of the feast of the Dormition; the next day, after the Liturgy, the whole brotherhood of Old Rossikon accompanied the venerated elder on his last journey.