Archimandrite
Saint Euthymius was born in Nizhny Novgorod to a pious family. From a very young age, he started to study the holy scriptures, he often visited churches, prayed and listened to the chants. Hearing the words of the Gospel about following the love of Christ, he went to the Nizhegorod Caves monastery, where, with the blessing of abbot Dionysius, he became a monk.
Euthymius devoted himself to the Lord, spending days in labor and nights in prayer. He was occupied in the bakery of the monastery, constantly reminding himself of the eternal sufferings and the Kingdom of God. His patience and asceticism inspired admiration among the other monks, who considered him an angel of the heavens.
The great prince Boris Konstantinovich asked Saint Eufthymius to build a monastery in Suzdal. Having received a blessing, he built a church in honor of Saint Basil and then came to Suzdal. Together with the prince and the bishop John, they chose the location for the new monastery, where a temple was constructed in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
It was consecrated in 1352, when Euthymius also became an archimandrite. He continued to work on the development of the monastery, building new churches and trapezes for the everyday life of the brotherhood. He established strict rules of life, demanding obedience and love to be the priorities of all monks.
Saint Euthymius often visited Saint Sergius of Radonezh for spiritual conversations. He lived in prayers, fasting, and taking care of everyone in need, helping the poor and healing the sick. Sensing that the day of his death was near, he gathered the whole brotherhood, comforting the monks and assuring them that the monastery would not be left desolate after his passing.
Saint Euthymius reposed on April 1, 1405, after 52 years of taking care of the monastery. He was buried in a place that he had prepared himself. His grace continues to perform miracles and healings to this day.
