1861–1927
A man of Vyatka who, after years in trade, entered the monastic life and was known for his ascetic devotion.
Our Venerable Father Matthew of Zaransk
Venerable Matthew of Zaransk was a Russian monastic of the Vyatka region whose life spanned the late imperial and early Soviet periods. Born in 1861 in the city of Vyatka, he bore the secular name Mētrophánēs Kuzmich Svetov; his father was a shoemaker, and in his youth he engaged in commerce.
After years in trade he entered the monastic life, receiving tonsure in 1891 at the monastery of Saint Alexander, where he was given the name Matthew. He was later ordained to the priesthood and spent the remainder of his life in monastic service, becoming known for his ascetic devotion and, by local tradition, for miraculous healings.
He reposed in 1927 and is commemorated on May 27.
Finding delight in abstinence,
you subdued the desires of the flesh.
Revealed as one nurtured in the Faith,
you blossomed like the Tree of Life in Paradise,
O Venerable Father Matthew.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
In you, O Father, was preserved with exactness what was according to the image;
for you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away;
but to care for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore, O Venerable Matthew, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
Matthew was born in 1861 in the city of Vyatka, in central Russia, with the secular name Mētrophánēs Kuzmich Svetov. His father worked as a shoemaker.
In his early years, before entering the monastic life, the future saint engaged in commerce.
In 1891 Mētrophánēs was tonsured a monk at the monastery of Saint Alexander, receiving the name Matthew. By tradition, he resided in the Vyatka region's monasteries, where he was later ordained to the priesthood and served as a hieromonk.
He spent the remainder of his life in monastic devotion, and local tradition attributed miraculous healings to him, establishing his reputation as a wonderworker.
Matthew reposed in 1927 in the Vyatka region. A chapel was later constructed over his grave.
He was glorified as a locally venerated saint of the Vyatka Diocese in 1997. In 2015 his remains were uncovered during sanctioned excavations and transferred to a church in the region.
Traditional Accounts: Local tradition attributed miraculous healings to Matthew, by which he gained a reputation as a wonderworker (chudotvorets) in the Vyatka region.
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