Venerable (Monastic)15th century

Venerable Arsenius Abbot of Konevits

died 1447

Also known as Arsenius of Konevits

A Novgorodian coppersmith who became a monk and, after time on Mount Athos, founded the monastery on the island of Konevits in Lake Ladoga.

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Arsenius, Abbot of Konevits

Life

Arsenius of Konevits was a Novgorodian coppersmith who left his trade for monastic life, was tonsured at the Lisich monastery near Novgorod, and after years of preparation and two periods on Mount Athos founded the monastery on Konevets Island in Lake Ladoga.

After eleven years at Lisich, he traveled to Mount Athos in 1373, where he spent three years and continued to craft copper vessels for the monastic community. He returned to Russia in 1393 bringing an icon of the Mother of God that came to be known as the Konevits Icon.

Settling on Konevets Island, he lived for several years in solitude before founding, with the authorization of Archbishop John of Novgorod, a cenobitic monastery dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. He died in 1447 and was buried in the monastery church.

Kontakion & Troparion3 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 8

The Trihypostastic Deity enlightened your heart, O Venerable one,
and you were illumined with virtues;
and Mount Athos, where you received the holy Icon of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness,
and His most pure Mother as a gift, was lit by the light of your diligence.
You came to an island in Lake Ladoga and established a monastery, most blessed one.
Therefore, coming to you with faith and love, we cry out with joy:
"Rejoice, most radiant lamp, Arsenios, our Father."

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

TroparionTone 1

Aflame with divine love, you cast aside worldly passions from your soul,
by the narrow path of fasting;
you walked in Christ's footsteps with a steadfast spirit, O most blessed Arsenios,
and from Him you received a reward in Heaven for your labors.
Remember us who venerate your holy memory, crying out:
"Glory to Him Who gave you strength.
Glory to Him Who crowned you.
Glory to Him Who, through you, grants healing to all."

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

TroparionTone 4

Guided by the Spirit of God, you loved stillness,
in which you struggled according to the Gospel.
An astonishing gift from Mount Athos was given to you:
an Icon of the Mother of God.
O most blessed one, you were an example of virtue for your flock,
and you were lifted up to Heavenly triumph,
where, rejoicing with the Angels,
you pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls,
Arsenios our Father.

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

Timeline6 momentsReadHide

Before 1373Coppersmith and monk at LisichBorn in Novgorod, Arsenius worked as a coppersmith before receiving monastic tonsure at the Lisich monastery near Novgorod, where he remained for eleven years.
1373First sojourn on Mount AthosHe traveled to Mount Athos, where he spent three years in prayer and crafted copper vessels for the monastic community.
1393Return to Russia with the Konevits IconHe returned to Russia bringing an icon of the Mother of God that came to be called the Konevits Icon, and traveled to Konevets Island on Lake Ladoga.
1398Founding of the Konevits monasteryWith authorization from Archbishop John of Novgorod, Arsenius founded a cenobitic monastery dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos after some years of solitary life on the island.
1421Flood and relocationA significant flood damaged the monastery structures, necessitating relocation to another site on the island.
1447ReposeArsenius died and was buried in the monastery church.

Contributions & Legacy

5 contributionsReadHide

Early Life and Monastic Formation

Arsenius was born in Novgorod and worked as a coppersmith before entering monastic life. He received monastic tonsure at the Lisich monastery near Novgorod, where he remained for eleven years in spiritual preparation.

In 1373 he traveled to Mount Athos, where he spent three years in prayer while also crafting copper vessels for the monastic community. He returned to Russia in 1393, bringing with him an icon of the Mother of God that came to be called the Konevits Icon.

Foundation of Konevets Monastery

Arsenius transported the Konevits Icon to Konevets Island on Lake Ladoga, where he spent several years in solitary contemplation. With authorization from Archbishop John of Novgorod, he founded a cenobitic monastery in 1398 dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

He subsequently made a second visit to Mount Athos to seek the prayers and blessings of the holy fathers for his new community. According to accounts of the monastery, his mission included the conversion of the Karelian people, and the island had earlier held spiritual significance for Finnish tribes who venerated a large boulder shaped like a horse's skull, known as the Steed-Stone, from which the name Konevets derives.

A significant flood in 1421 damaged the monastery structures, necessitating relocation to another site on the island.

Legacy

The monastery on Konevets Island, often regarded as a twin foundation with the Valaam Monastery, kept the Konevits Icon as its primary shrine. The image, brought from Mount Athos, depicts the Mother of God with the Christ Child holding a dove.

In later centuries the monastery endured occupation during the Ingrian War, when Swedish forces captured the island and the monks evacuated to Novgorod, returning after Russia's victory in the Great Northern War. The monastery remained dependent on Novgorod until 1760, when it achieved independent status. It was revived by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1990 and substantially restored by 2004.

Relics & Shrines

Arsenius was buried in the monastery church after his death in 1447. In November 1991 the brethren announced the discovery of his relics, which had reportedly been hidden during the 16th century to protect them during the Swedish incursions.

Works About the Saint

A biography of Arsenius was composed in the sixteenth century by Igumen Barlaam and published in 1850 alongside liturgical texts.

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

Same region: Lake Ladoga; Konevets, founded by Arsenius, is reckoned a twin monastic foundation with nearby Valaam.

Venerable Sergius and HermanWonderworkers of Valaam

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints