He was born in Rome at the end of the 15th century to pious parents. Raised in strict religious laws, he left Rome and reached Veliky Novgorod, where he entered the Svir Monastery and took monastic vows. By the blessing of an elder, he settled for silence on an islet of the Lenzi River, spending his time in strict feats of vigil, fasting, and prayer, feeding on berries and herbs.
Through his feats, he attracted to the place a special grace, which manifested in the form of a fiery pillar and fragrant smoke, drawing people who sought spiritual guidance and monastic life. Soon, he founded a monastery at the site of his struggles, becoming its first igumen. While managing the monastery, the saint received from the Lord the gift of foresight and miracles.
A peaceful death followed on August 15 in the second half of the 16th century. The body of the saint was buried in the Assumption Church he had built.
