Archimandrite
Saint Ignatius (in the world Ivan Adrianovich Biryukov) was born on May 25, 1865, in the town of Biryuch, Voronezh province, into a peasant family. From an early age, he showed interest in church singing, which led him to contemplate monastic life. In 1878, at the age of thirteen, he entered the Valuysky Monastery, where he became a cell attendant to Archimandrite Ignatius (Alexeyevsky). His meek behavior and skillful singing attracted the attention of the abbot and the brethren. Soon he became the regent of the monastery choir and published a musical collection.
In 1894, after a pilgrimage to holy places, he returned to the monastery, where he continued his service. In 1897, he was tonsured into monasticism with the name Ignatius, and in 1898 he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon. In 1900, he became the assistant abbot, and in 1912, after the death of Archimandrite Ignatius, he was elected abbot of the Valuysky Monastery.
During World War I, he took care of the families of soldiers, providing them with everything necessary. After the 1917 revolution, the monastery was closed, and he was arrested but soon released. In 1924, he moved to the town of Biryuch, but soon returned to his ministry. In 1930, he was arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison; however, a year later, the sentence was changed to exile in the Northern region. Saint Ignatius passed away on September 27, 1932, on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
