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Venerable (Monastic)14th century

Venerable Demetrius of Priluki Vologda

d. 1392

Also known as Demetrios of Priluki · Dmitry of Priluki

A friend and disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh who founded the Savior-Priluki Monastery near Vologda and was renowned for his love of the poor; reposed 1392.

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Demetrius, Wonderworker of Priluki, Vologda

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Life

Demetrius of Priluki was a fourteenth-century Russian monastic founder, a friend and disciple of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, and the founder of the Savior-Priluki (Spaso-Prilutsky) Monastery near Vologda. He came from a wealthy merchant family of Pereyaslavl-Zalessk and received monastic tonsure at one of the town's monasteries. He went on to found the cenobitic monastery of Saint Nicholas on the hill of Saints Boris and Gleb, on the shore of Lake Plescheevo near the city, where he served as igumen.

His meeting with Saint Sergius of Radonezh in 1334 marked a turning point in his life and drew him toward a more solitary discipline. Seeking the wilderness, he traveled north into the Vologda forests with his disciple Pachomius. After an early attempt to settle was rebuffed, he came to a bend of the Vologda River, where local landowners supported his work, and there founded what became the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery, regarded as the first cenobitic monastery of the Russian North. He reposed at an advanced age on February 11, 1392, and is venerated as a wonderworker.

Timeline4 momentsReadHide
  1. 1334Meeting with Saint SergiusDemetrius met Saint Sergius of Radonezh during the latter's visit to Pereyaslavl, beginning a close spiritual friendship that shaped the rest of his life.
  2. 1371Founding of the Savior monasteryAt a bend of the Vologda River, a wooden cathedral dedicated to the Savior was built, establishing the monastery that became known as Spaso-Prilutsky.
  3. 1392ReposeDemetrius died at an advanced age on February 11, 1392.
  4. 1409Miracles at the relicsMiracles associated with his relics began in 1409, and his veneration spread throughout Russia during the fifteenth century.

Contributions & Legacy

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Monastic life and foundations

Before his move north, Demetrius founded the cenobitic monastery of Saint Nicholas on the hill of Saints Boris and Gleb, on the shore of Lake Plescheevo near Pereyaslavl-Zalessk, and served as its hegumen. Influenced by his friendship with Saint Sergius of Radonezh, he later left Pereslavl for a more solitary life in the Vologda forests, traveling with his disciple Pachomius.

After an initial settlement was poorly received, he reached a meander (priluka) of the Vologda River, from which the place took its name, and built a wooden church and cells. The Savior cathedral was completed in 1371, founding the Spaso-Prilutsky (Savior-Priluki) Monastery, which is described as the first cenobitic monastery of the Russian North. Many disciples followed him there from his former community.

Asceticism and works of mercy

Sources record his austere fasting; his Lenten food is said to have consisted of prosphora with warm water. Alongside this severity, he was remembered for his compassion toward the poor and suffering. His standing was such that he became godfather to the children of Grand Prince Demetrius Ioannovich (Demetrius Donskoy).

Relics and veneration

Demetrius is commemorated on February 11. Miracles at his relics are recorded from 1409, and his veneration spread throughout Rus' over the following century. By about 1440 the Priluki monk Macarius recorded his Life, drawing on accounts from his disciple Pachomius. His relics, together with his staff and penance chains, are kept at the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery.

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Notable Works

  • Spaso-Prilutsky (Savior-Priluki) Monastery — Cenobitic monastery he founded at a bend of the Vologda River, regarded as the first cenobitic monastery of the Russian North; its wooden Savior cathedral was built in 1371.
  • Saint Nicholas Monastery, Lake Plescheevo — Cenobitic monastery he founded near Pereyaslavl-Zalessk on the hill of Saints Boris and Gleb, where he served as igumen before moving north.
Companions3 figuresShowHide
Friend and spiritual guide whom Demetrius met in 1334; his influence drew Demetrius to the monastic life of the Russian North.
Sergiusof Radonezh
Grand Prince whose children Demetrius is said to have baptized as godfather.
Right-believing Demetrios DonskoyGrand Prince of Moscow
Who began his monastic life at his Priluki monastery of the Savior.
Venerable Ignatiusof Loma
Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Tonsured and formed at his Savior-Priluki monastery before founding his own at Totma.
Theodosiusof Totma

Browse similar saints by calling and place.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org)