Archimandrite
Saint Pimen (in the world Pyotr Dmitrievich Myasnikov) was born on 10 August 1810 in Vologda. His parents, Dmitry Afanasievich and Avdotya Petrovna, came from a merchant family. From an early age, Pyotr studied the Bible and often spent time in the church, together with his father.
At the age of seventeen, he decided to renounce worldly life. In June 1832, he entered the Kirillov-Novozersky Monastery. In 1833, he moved to the Vedensky Monastery of Optina, where he remained as a deacon under the guidance of Hieromonk Hilarion. In 1834, Hilarion was appointed abbot of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery, taking the young Pyotr with him.
On the 26th of March 1838, Pyotr was tonsured as a monk and given the name Poemen. In February 1839, he was ordained a hierodeacon and on 25 April 1840, he became a hieromonk. On 16 October 1853, he was appointed abbot.
On 24 August 1858, Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow elevated him to the rank of Archimandrite, recognizing his contribution to the organization and development of the monastery. Through Saint Poemen’s efforts, five churches were built during this period. In 1869, he was appointed dean of the cenobitic monasteries of Moscow.
On 17 August 1880, Saint Poemen reposed in the Lord.
