Barlaam of Khutyn
Encyclopedia
Barlaam of Khutyn also known as Varlaam, was a hermit
. Born Alexis Milchalevich to a wealthy family from Novgorod. After the death of his parents, he became a hermit
on the Volga
and handed all of his inheritance to the poor. At this time he had gained many followers. So great were their numbers that he founded a monastery, the Khutyn Monastery of Saviour's Transfiguration
, and took the name of Barlaam (Varlaam). He died on 6 November 1192, his grave has become a site for pilgrimage
.
Varlaam is famous for healing the Grand Prince Vasily (from a family of Riazan boyars) when the last was visiting Novgorod. Later he became a patron of the Vologda
city.
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
. Born Alexis Milchalevich to a wealthy family from Novgorod. After the death of his parents, he became a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
on the Volga
Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, eleven, including the capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga's drainage...
and handed all of his inheritance to the poor. At this time he had gained many followers. So great were their numbers that he founded a monastery, the Khutyn Monastery of Saviour's Transfiguration
Khutyn Monastery
Khutyn Monastery of Saviour's Transfiguration and of St. Varlaam used to be the holiest monastery of the medieval Novgorod Republic. The monastery is situated on the right bank of the Volkhov River some 10 km north northeast of Velikiy Novgorod, in the village of Khutyn, whose name is perhaps...
, and took the name of Barlaam (Varlaam). He died on 6 November 1192, his grave has become a site for pilgrimage
Christian pilgrimage
Christian pilgrimage was first made to sites connected with the ministry of Jesus. Surviving descriptions of Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Jerusalem date from the 4th century, when pilgrimage was encouraged by church fathers like Saint Jerome and established by Helena, the mother of...
.
Varlaam is famous for healing the Grand Prince Vasily (from a family of Riazan boyars) when the last was visiting Novgorod. Later he became a patron of the Vologda
Vologda
Vologda is a city and the administrative, cultural, and scientific center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the Vologda River. The city is a major transport knot of the Northwest of Russia. Vologda is among the Russian cities possessing an especially valuable historical heritage...
city.