Leucius of Volokolamsk

Saint Leucius of Volokolamsk was the founder of the Dormition Monastery on the Ruza River (the monastery was located 32 versts from the city of Volokolamsk and 2 versts from the village of Seredo-⁠Stratilatsk). He was a disciple of Saint Paphnutius of Borov (1 May) and an associate of Saint Joseph of Volokolamsk (9 September). The time of the monastery's founding might perhaps be determined from the remnants of the Life of Saint Daniel of Pereyaslavl (7 April). Daniel, upon his arrival at the Borov monastery in 1466, was entrusted by Paphnutius to the elder Leucius as an experienced ascetic. After ten years, in 1476, the elder and his disciple settled in the Volokolamsk region, where they dwelt together for another two years in founding the monastery. After this Daniel went to Pereyaslavl. It is conjectured that Leucius was 62 years of age at the founding. Having raised up a monastery, he became known throughout the surrounding region for his ascetic life. According to tradition, he died in extreme old age at the end of the fifteenth century and was buried in the monastery he founded.

In the manuals of iconography he is listed under 27 July: "He was greyed, with a beard like Saint Sergius, his hair uncovered, a schema on his shoulders, a staff in his hand, and monastic garb." His commemoration is observed on 14 December and on 17 August (new style; 30 August on the old calendar), on the feast of the Holy Martyr Leucius.