Saint Mikhail, a disciple and cell attendant of Sergius of Radonezh, attained a high degree of spiritual purity. He was honored to witness the appearance of the Mother of God when Sergius, after fervent prayer, saw the Most Blessed Virgin accompanied by the apostles Peter and John the Theologian. The Mother of God promised to be unceasingly present at the monastery and to always cover it.
After this heavenly visitation, Saint Mikhail, struck by the vision, fell to the ground as if dead. Sergius, having calmed down, gathered the brethren for joint prayer. This miraculous event took place during the Nativity Fast, on the night from Friday to Saturday, presumably in 1384.
Saint Mikhail reposed during the lifetime of his mentor on May 6, 1385. His relics rest beneath the small church, consecrated on December 10, 1734, in honor of the appearance of the Mother of God to Saint Sergius, of which he was a witness.
