He was born on May 28, 1884, in the city of Chukhloma, Kostroma province, into a pious family. He graduated from the Soligalich Spiritual School and the Kostroma Theological Seminary, then entered the Kazan Veterinary Institute. Starting in 1905, he began attending services at the Spassky Monastery in Kazan, where the abbot, Archimandrite Varsonofy, became his spiritual mentor. In 1905, he received a blessing for monasticism from Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel.
After graduating from the institute, on May 4, 1908, he joined the Zosimova Hermitage, where he was accepted by the igumen Herman. In the monastery, he undertook various obediences, including caring for livestock and treating animals. On March 17, 1910, he was tonsured into the riasophor, and on March 18, 1915, into the mantle, taking the name Agafon.
After his tonsure, he continued to deepen his spiritual life by studying the works of the holy fathers. In 1918, he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon, and in 1920, to the rank of hieromonk. He served in various monasteries, including the Peter and Paul and the Nativity churches.
In 1923, the Zosimova Hermitage was closed, and he moved to Moscow, where he continued to accept spiritual children. In 1935, he was arrested and sentenced to five years in a correctional labor camp. In the camp, he continued to write to his spiritual children, supporting them in faith.
He died on May 30, 1938, in the camp, leaving behind many spiritual children who remember him as a pious and humble elder.
