Wednesday, October 28

Modern · 1651–1709

St Demetrius of Rostov

Metropolitan, compiler of the Lives of Saints

Demetrius (Tuptalo) was born near Kiev, the son of a Cossack officer, and educated at the Kiev academy before becoming a monk at eighteen. A gifted preacher, he served in monasteries across Ukraine before undertaking, at the request of the Kiev Caves Lavra, the labor that occupied twenty years of his life: the compilation of the Menaion, the complete Lives of the Saints for every day of the year, drawing on Greek, Latin, and Slavonic sources. This vast collection became the standard hagiographic library of the Russian Church and beloved reading for generations. Consecrated bishop, he was appointed Metropolitan of Rostov in 1702, where he fought ignorance among the clergy, founded a school, and wrote against the Old Believer schism. He died in prayer in 1709 and his incorrupt relics were discovered in 1752; he was glorified soon after.

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