Archimandrite
Archimandrite of the Niamț Monastery in Moldova, born in 1722 in Poltava to a priest's family. At the age of 17, he entered the Lyubech Monastery, then moved to the Trăisteni Skete, and later to the Kerkula Skete. On Mount Athos, he founded the Skete of St. Elias, and in 1758 he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1763, he moved to Moldova with 64 monks at the request of the local prince and became the abbot of the Dragomirna Monastery.
Under his guidance, the number of the brotherhood tripled, and he introduced the rule according to the order of St. Basil the Great and other saints. After the Russo-Turkish War of 1774 and the transfer of the land to Catholic Austria, he decided to leave with the brotherhood to the Secu Monastery. In 1779, he moved to the Niamț Monastery, leaving part of the brotherhood in Secu.
At the Niamț Monastery, he organized life according to the model of Dragomirna and Secu, including the prayer of the heart and the reading of the works of the holy fathers. By 1790, the number of monks had increased to 10,000, and he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. He continued to care for Secu and other monasteries.
He taught the brotherhood the prayer of the heart, continuing the traditions of the holy fathers. Blessed Paisius reposed on November 15, 1794, and was buried in the Niamț Monastery. His translations of the works of the holy fathers were for a long time the only ones in Russian literature, including 'Dobrotolubie' and the writings of the saints.
