The Righteous Paul of Taganrog was born on November 8, 1792, into the family of a nobleman from the Chernigov province, Pavel Stozhkov. He was named at baptism in honor of St. Paul the Confessor. At the age of 25, following the words of the Lord, he distributed his possessions, freed his serfs, and set out on a pilgrimage to holy places.
For about ten years he lived as a wanderer, and then settled in Taganrog, where, forgetting his noble origins, he lived in a dugout and worked at the port. His righteous life attracted people who came to him for advice and comfort.
In his old age, he left heavy labor and lived in a small house, constantly praying to God and serving people. Every day he visited the cathedral, took care of the lamps, and helped those in need. He taught people to pray the Jesus Prayer and showed concern for the church's holy relics.
The Righteous Paul had the gift of healing and foresight; people came to him with requests for help. He predicted the future for his spiritual children, including his spiritual father, Hieromonk Damian.
As he approached the end of his life, he knew the day and hour of his death. He passed away on March 10, 1879, and his face at the moment of death shone with joy, and his body became white as snow.
The local glorification of the saint took place on June 20, 1999, in Taganrog. More than ten thousand believers came to honor his memory. The name of Righteous Paul of Taganrog was included in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church for public veneration on February 2-3, 2016.
