Seraphim Komarov

Seraphim Komarov was a Russian schemamonk of St Panteleimon Monastery, born in a peasant family from Yaroslavl, an officer and then a rich merchant in St Petersburg. He reposed on 12 April 1864. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Simeon Maximovich Komarov in the world, he rose to captain, then became a merchant of the third guild, and made a fortune, so that he had a hotel and his brothers became suppliers to the court. A devout man, he used his wealth for almsgiving, giving to many monasteries, among them the Russian monastery on Athos. His daughter Elena was raised in the faith. In 1843, at his wife's death, he left the world, gave his business to his brothers, and his daughter entered the convent at Staraya Ladoga with the name Hermione, remaining linked to her father by spiritual letters. He came to Athos and was given funds to collect; because of the Crimean War he returned to the monastery only at the end of 1855. He settled in the cell of the Holy Trinity, built by him, and in his last nine years lived in complete voluntary seclusion, in repentance, prayer and fasting, loved and respected by all the brethren.