Venerable Iliodor (Golovanitsky), in the world John, was born in 1795 in the family of a priest in the village of Staroselye, Cherkasy district of Kyiv province. He studied at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, then served in the Nizhny Novgorod militia. In 1815, he retired and took on obedience at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, later moving to the Sofroniev Desert, and then to the Glinsk Monastery under the guidance of Venerable Philaret (Danilevsky). In 1823, he was tonsured into the mantle with the name Ioann.
After his tonsure, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, calling him to vigilance. Venerable Ioann faced persecution and slander, but despite the trials, he continued his ministry. In 1824, he was ordained as hierodeacon, and then as hieromonk. In 1832, he was appointed abbot of the Rykhlovsky Monastery, in 1835 he was elevated to the rank of igumen, and in 1840 — to the rank of archimandrite.
In 1845, he was retired to the Glinsk Desert. He made a pilgrimage to Palestine and Mount Athos, where his spiritual experience was highly regarded. In 1858, he accepted the schema with the name Iliodor. In 1863, he secluded himself in a desert cell, where he continued the struggles of prayer and abstinence.
Possessing the gifts of discernment and insight, Venerable Iliodor became a spiritual mentor to many Glinsk elders. His teachings coincide with the teachings of the Optina elders. After many labors and struggles, bound by illness to his bed, he peacefully reposed.
