Vissarion Khlystov

Vissarion Khlystov was a Russian hieroschemamonk of St Panteleimon Monastery, born in 1878 in Moscow into a family of townspeople. He reposed on 29 December 1954. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Vyacheslav Ivanovich in the world, he graduated from the philosophy faculty of the Imperial University of Moscow and a future in scholarship was promised him, but one meeting changed his life: he accompanied a friend to Kronstadt, to St John. Later he came to Athos. He was a spiritual adviser not only to the monks of the monastery but also to many lay people, emigrants from Russia, with whom he corresponded constantly; letters survive addressed to him by people of all sorts, from princes to simple folk, who sought spiritual counsel and his prayer. He reposed on 29 December 1954.