Paphnutius of Borovsk

Venerable Paphnutius of Borovsk (in the world Parthenius) was an abbot and the founder of the men's monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God at Borovsk, born in 1394 and died on 1 May 1477 (the Serbian source gives 1478, at 94 years). He was canonized by the Council of Makariev in 1547. He is commemorated on 1 May by the old calendar.

He was born in the village of Kudinovo, Borovsk district, a grandson of the Tatar baskak Martin, who had become Orthodox. His parents, John and Photinia, were pious people. In 1414 he received monastic tonsure with the name Paphnutius at the monastery of the Protection of the Mother of God at Vysoko and afterward stood in obedience to Nikita of Serpukhov, a disciple of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh. When the abbot of the monastery died, the brethren chose him abbot, and Saint Photius, metropolitan of Kiev, ordained him priest. Thirty years he spent in the monastery of the Protection, as abbot and elder confessor. At the age of 51 he fell gravely ill, gave up the abbacy and took the great schema. The Serbian source says that he remained a virgin and an ascetic and that tradition remembers him as a great wonderworker and clairvoyant.

In 1444 Paphnutius founded a monastery near Borovsk, at the confluence of the river Isterma with the Protva, and built a new stone church in place of the wooden one, in honour of the Nativity of the Mother of God. In its painting the best icon painter of the time, Dionysius, and his assistants took part. Paphnutius' monastic labour lasted more than 63 years. Two writings about his life survive, composed by his disciples: the Life of Venerable Paphnutius of Borovsk by Vassian (Sanin), bishop of Rostov, and the Narrative of the End of Venerable Paphnutius of Borovsk by the elder Innocent. Later he became teacher and mentor of another well-⁠known churchman, Joseph of Volokolamsk. Maximus the Greek, a supporter of the rival monastic movement, the non-⁠possessors, criticised Paphnutius because he gave bread to people, and took interest on money, and kept people and servants, and judged, and beat with the whip. On 13 October 2016 a bronze monument to him was set up in Borovsk, near the church of the Protection of the Mother of God at Vysoko.