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Hierarch15th century

Gerasimus Bishop of Perm

15th century (died 1441 or 1447)

Third bishop of the newly-enlightened Zyrian people, who labored to convert and shepherd them and met a martyr's end.

January 24New Calendar
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February 6Old Calendar
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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Gerasimus, Bishop of Perm

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Missionary Work

Life

Gerasimus was the third bishop of the see of Perm in northeastern Russia and a successor of Saint Stephen, the enlightener of the Zyrian (Komi) people. Raised to the episcopate sometime after 1416, when the conversion of the Zyrians was still incomplete, he labored to extend and protect the young Christian community in a frontier region exposed to raiding.

He is remembered for venturing into the camps of the pagan Voguls to plead for the safety of his flock, and for the manner of his death: by tradition he was strangled with his own omophorion by a servant. He is commemorated on January 24 and again on January 29 among the hierarchs of Perm.

Kontakion & Troparion4 hymnsReadHide
KontakionTone 8

O Saint Gerásimos,
the Russian Church reveres you as a priest of the Most High,
dwelling with the Apostles and Martyrs.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) O Hierarch Gerasimus, divine thunder, spiritual trumpet,
planter of faith and pruner of heresies, great favorite of the Trinity,
while standing with the Angels before God,
pray unceasingly for us all.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 3

By preaching faith in God, you enlightened the land of the Zyryani
and brought many people to Christ.
Your blood cries out to the Lord, along with the blood of Abel and Zachariah.
O Father Gerásimos, entreat Christ God for your flock,
and for all who lovingly revere your memory, to grant them great mercy.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you;
your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Gerasimus,
entreat Christ our God
that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide
  1. after 1416Elevation to the see of PermRaised to the episcopate as third bishop of the Zyrian people, succeeding Saint Stephen of Perm and Bishop Isaac, at a time when only part of the Zyrians had been converted.
  2. 1438 and 1441Church synods at MoscowAccording to one account he took part in Church councils held at Moscow in 1438 and 1441.
  3. 1441 (or 1447)MartyrdomMurdered while laboring among his people; by tradition he was strangled with his omophorion by a Vogul servant. He was buried at Ust-Vym on the River Vychegda.
  4. 1607Establishment of his commemorationHis formal commemoration was established, and he is honored together with the other hierarchs of Perm, Pitirim and Jonah.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributionsReadHide

Episcopate and Mission among the Zyrians

Gerasimus was the third bishop of the Zyrian (Komi) people, following Saint Stephen, the enlightener of Perm, and Bishop Isaac. He was elevated to the see sometime after 1416, when only a portion of the Zyrians had yet received Christianity, and so inherited both a missionary task and the care of an exposed frontier church. One account records that he took part in synods of the Russian Church held at Moscow in 1438 and 1441.

His flock suffered repeated incursions from the Novgorodians and from the pagan Voguls, who plundered the Christian settlements of Perm. Gerasimus went in person into the Vogul camps to urge the raiders to cease their attacks on the defenseless people under his care.

Martyrdom and Veneration

It was during these labors that Gerasimus was killed. According to tradition he was strangled with his own omophorion by a Vogul servant; one account adds that this was a young man he had raised from childhood and meant to train as a preacher. The sources give the year as either 1441 or 1447.

He was buried in the church at Ust-Vym on the River Vychegda, the burial place of the first bishops of Perm, later the Annunciation church. Healings were reported at his relics, his commemoration was established in 1607, and he is remembered on January 24 and on January 29 among the hierarchs of Perm.

Member ofReadHide
Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Perm
Commemorated together · Jan 29
Companions3 figuresShowHide
The enlightener of the Zyrian people and first bishop of Perm, whose missionary work Gerasimus continued as third bishop of the see.
Saint StephenBishop of Perm
His successors in the see of Perm, commemorated together with him among the hierarchs of Perm on January 29.
Pitirim and JonahBishops of Perm
A later bishop of Perm, commemorated with him among the holy hierarchs of Perm.
Saint JonahBishop of Perm
Related SaintsShowHide

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Jan 24