Bishop
Saint Ignatius (in the world Dmitry Alexandrovich Bryanchaninov) was born on February 6, 1807, in Pokrovsk, Vologda Province. From an early age, he showed interest in monastic life, deepening his prayer and reading of spiritual books. He studied excellently, remaining the top student in his class, and had diverse talents. In 1827, he retired from military service and took monastic vows under the name Ignatius at the Glushitsky Monastery.
In January 1832, he was appointed as the builder of the Pelshensky Lopotov Monastery, and in 1833, he became the igumen. Later, upon the recommendation of the Holy Synod, he was appointed as the abbot of the Sergiev Hermitage. Having lived there for 24 years, he brought it to a flourishing state.
On October 27, 1857, he was consecrated as the Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea. In 1861, he settled in the Nikol-Babaevsky Monastery, where until the end of his life († 1867) he worked on spiritual writings.
The name of Saint Ignatius Bryanchaninov shines in the annals of the Church and Russia as the creator of immortal spiritual works and a zealous guardian of Orthodox traditions.
