Ηegumen / Abbot
Venerable Stephen, a monk of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, established the Makhrišch Monastery. The landowner Gregory, having donated his estate to him, became a monk there. Seeing his successes in spiritual life, Stephen was ordained a presbyter at the request of the igumen. The Yurkov brothers, fearing the loss of their lands, began to persecute Stephen, and he, taking Gregory with him, left the monastery. They came to the river Sukhona, where in 1370 they built a church in honor of the Holy Trinity and another in honor of the Great Martyr George. The monastery began to flourish thanks to the generosity of Konstantin Dmitrievich. He himself became a monk with the name Cassian and became an assistant to Gregory.
The Avnezh Monastery, established by Stephen, became well-known, and the Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich sent him donations, but ordered him to return to the Makhrišch Monastery. Stephen appointed Gregory as the abbot and entrusted Cassian with the management of the cellarer’s duties. However, soon the Tatars attacked the monastery, and Gregory and Cassian were killed. Their bodies were buried at the church's ashes, and the place became desolate.
In 1524, Gabriel, having cleared the forest at the site of the former monastery, discovered untouched graves. The elder Gregory appeared to him, commanding him to build a church. Gabriel, having destroyed the chapel, fell into madness, but after repentance, he received healing. In 1560, Metropolitan Makary gathered information about the holiness of the martyrs, and incorrupt relics were found. The Avnezh Monastery was attached to the Trinity Lavra, and in 1764 it was abolished, but the chapel remained dedicated to the memory of the venerable ones.
