Nikephoros of Kaluga

Venerable Nikephoros of Kaluga was hegumen and founder of the Savior-⁠Vorotynsk monastery on the Ugra. He died in 1506. He is also called Nikephoros of Medyn or of Vorotynsk. His veneration is local.

Nothing is known of his life in the world. Nikephoros was one of the first disciples of Venerable Tikhon of Kaluga and had the gift of foresight. In 1492, after the death of Tikhon of Medyn, Venerable Nikephoros succeeded him in the direction of Tikhon's Dormition hermitage, receiving the rank of hegumen.

In 1498 (or 1500) Nikephoros founded the monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior at Vorotynsk, near the confluence of the Ugra and the Oka. The saint reposed in 1506 at Tikhon's hermitage. The place of his remains is not known.

He was canonized locally. In the book "Description of Russian Saints", however, Venerable Nikephoros is mentioned among the saints of the city of Kaluga, together with Saints Tikhon and Lawrence. His commemoration is on 29 June, the day of commemoration of his teacher, Venerable Tikhon of Kaluga. At the Vorotynsk monastery the commemoration of Nikephoros is also kept on 2 May. On old icons Venerable Nikephoros is depicted with the other wonderworkers of Kaluga: Tikhon of Kaluga, Paphnutius of Borovsk and Lawrence of Kaluga.