Pavel Khromoy (the Lame)

Pavel Khromoy (the Lame) was a Russian schemamonk, a Great Russian by birth, a hermit in the cell of St John the Forerunner on the land of Stavronikita Monastery. He died probably in the late 1850s, the exact date not being known. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

His cell stood on the north-⁠east slope of the Mountain, under a large rock with flowering shrubs, on a terrace of a few fathoms, in the shade of olive trees. He was renowned for hospitality and for seclusion: he lived always alone, in the unceasing Jesus Prayer, but if someone asked to be his disciple, out of the great love of a heart purified by prayer he could refuse neither temporary shelter nor even permanent. Parthenius Ageev writes in his notes that he told him he wished to live in his hut, and the elder was glad, took him there and said: Here, dear brother, live and pray to God.