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Hierarch17th century

Saint Pitirim Bishop of Tambov

1645–1698

Also known as Pitirim of Tambov · Procopius

A bishop of Tambov who labored to build up the church life of his diocese, founding monasteries and a convent and shepherding his people in prayer.

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Pitirim, Bishop of Tambov, the Wonderworker

Life

Saint Pitirim, Bishop of Tambov, was a seventeenth-century Russian hierarch who governed the frontier diocese of Tambov from 1685 until his death in 1698. Born in the city of Vyazma in western Russia and baptized Procopius, he became a monk in his youth, rose through monastic office to archimandrite, and was consecrated bishop by Patriarch Joachim of Moscow. As archpastor he worked to organize church life in a poor and recently settled diocese, building churches and monasteries and laboring to reconcile schismatics and dissenters to the Orthodox Church.

He was numbered among the saints in 1914, more than two centuries after his repose, and is commemorated on July 28.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide
KontakionTone 8

Together let us praise Pitirim, an outstanding instructor of monastics and a kindly Hierarch for all people;
an astonishing wonderworker, our tireless intercessor, and boast of the land of Tambov.

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

TroparionTone 4

Instructor of faith and piety, Lamp of the Church,
faithful image of those leading the monastic life,
O most wise Hierarch Pitirim, you tended your flock devotedly and led it to Christ,
therefore, adorned with a crown of glory from on High,
you remain in spirit with us on earth,
shining forth with miracles.
Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.

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

Timeline7 momentsReadHide
  1. 1645Birth in VyazmaBorn in the city of Vyazma in western Russia and baptized Procopius. Some accounts give the year as 1644. As a child he learned reading and writing, attended church services, and acquired a love of prayer and of reading the writings of the Fathers and the Lives of the Saints.
  2. c. 1666Monastic tonsure at VyazmaAt about the age of twenty-one he entered the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist at Vyazma, known for its strict rule, where he was tonsured a monk with the name Pitirim.
  3. 1684Raised to archimandriteHaving earned the respect of the brethren by his ascetic life, he was chosen igumen and in 1684 was raised to the dignity of archimandrite. On September 1 of that year he was nominated to the episcopate.
  4. 1685Consecrated Bishop of TambovOn February 15, 1685, Patriarch Joachim consecrated him Bishop of Tambov.
  5. 1690Foundation of the Ascension women's monasteryHe founded the Ascension women's monastery, of which his sister Katherine became the first abbess.
  6. 1698Repose at TambovHe died in 1698 at the age of fifty-three and was buried in the Savior-Transfiguration cathedral in Tambov.
  7. 1914GlorificationOn July 28, 1914, Pitirim was numbered among the saints.

Contributions & Legacy

5 contributionsReadHide

Early Life and Monastic Career

Pitirim was born in Vyazma and given the name Procopius at baptism. According to his life, he was a devout child who learned to read and write early, attended the church services, and formed the habit of prayer, taking particular delight in the writings of the holy Fathers and the Lives of the Saints. He was also endowed with artistic talent, occupying himself with the painting of icons and with church singing.

At about the age of twenty-one he entered the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist at Vyazma, a community noted for its strict rule, where he received monastic tonsure and the name Pitirim. His ascetic manner of life won him the respect of the brethren, who chose him igumen, and in 1684 he was raised to the dignity of archimandrite.

Episcopate at Tambov

Nominated to the episcopate on September 1, 1684, Pitirim was consecrated Bishop of Tambov by Patriarch Joachim on February 15, 1685, and governed the diocese under the Church of Russia until his death in 1698. Tambov was a poor frontier region, recently settled and surrounded by peoples who had not yet embraced Christianity, including the Mordovians and the Cheremis.

As archpastor he worked to build up the church life of his diocese. He constructed a two-story stone cathedral in honor of the Transfiguration, established a school for clergy and a spiritual library, and founded monastic communities. He was constantly concerned with the return of schismatics and dissenters to the Orthodox Church; according to his life, his deep piety, active compassion, and patient discourse disposed many to trust his word and led them to the Faith.

Monastic Foundations

Among Pitirim's foundations was the Tregulaev Monastery of Saint John the Baptist, which he built together with Saint Metrophanes (Mitrophan) of Voronezh. In 1690 he founded the Ascension women's monastery, of which his sister Katherine became the first abbess.

Relics and Shrines

Saint Pitirim was buried in the lower level of the Savior-Transfiguration cathedral at Tambov. Pilgrims sought his intercession at his tomb, where healings were reported, and from 1819 records of such miracles were kept.

Glorification

On July 28, 1914, more than two centuries after his repose, Pitirim, called a wonderworker, was numbered among the saints. He is commemorated on July 28.

Companions1 figureShowHide
Fellow Russian hierarch and contemporary, with whom Pitirim built the Tregulaev Monastery of Saint John the Baptist.
Saint MetrophanesBishop of Voronezh
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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints