Venerable Arsenius was born in the region of Great Novgorod. Renouncing worldly life, he chose to embrace the monastic path.
Desiring to venerate the holy places of Mount Athos, he received the blessing of his abbot and traveled there, where he served with humility and obedience. His job was to craft copper vessels for the needs of the monasteries. After three years of ascetic labor on the Holy Mountain, he returned to his homeland with the intention of founding a monastery dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos. Archbishop John blessed him and Venerable Arsenius established the Monastery of Konevets.
After founding the monastic brotherhood, he visited Mount Athos once again. During this visit, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to the Elder Joachim, revealing that Venerable Arsenius would bring abundance and prosperity to the monastery upon his return.
The saint indeed returned with abundant provisions. Having completed his spiritual struggles and ascetic labors, he peacefully surrendered his soul to the Lord on June 12, 1447, the feast day of Venerable Onuphrius and Venerable Peter the Athonite.
