Saint Eleazar of Anzersk was born in the city of Kozelsk into the family of merchants, the Sevryukovs. By the blessing of his parents, he withdrew to the Solovetsky Monastery, where he took monastic vows from the abbot, Saint Irinarkh. In the monastery, his remarkable artistic talent was revealed: he learned wood carving and participated in the decoration of the Transfiguration Cathedral. In 1612, by the blessing of the abbot, he withdrew to Anzersky Island, where he became a hermit, constantly engaged in prayer and contemplation. To provide for himself, Saint Eleazar carved wooden cups, which he left at the pier; those passing by the island would take the cups and leave supplies.
In 1616, he was tonsured into the schema. The monks who gathered around him formed a skete with a strict monastic rule. The monastic cells were built far apart from each other, and the hermits would gather only for Saturday and Sunday services. Cell prayer was combined with heavy physical labor. Among the disciples of Saint Eleazar was the hieromonk Nikita, who would become Patriarch Nikon. Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, knowing of the saint's ascetic life, summoned him to Moscow, where the saint prophesied the birth of a son to him. For this, the tsar generously rewarded him and helped to establish a stone church in the name of the Holy Trinity and a monastery on the island.
Saint Eleazar engaged in book writing, composing and copying three books of the 'Flowering' ('Цветник'), which included ancient tales as well as interpretations of the monastic rule for private prayer. He passed away in deep old age.
