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| St. Sergius of Shuktom (Feast Day - May 19) |
Venerable Sergius of Shukhtom was born at Kazan and baptized with the name Stephen. For three years he traveled to the holy places of Palestine, Constantinople and Greece, studying the monastic life. He returned to Novgorod, then he went to the Solovki Monastery. In 1603 he received the monastic schema from Archimandrite Isaiah, who later painted his icon, and he was given the name Sergius.
After taking the schema, the monk imposed strict ascetic struggles upon himself, going day and night without sleep, only taking short naps on his elbows and knees, eating only dry bread and some water, and even then only twice a week, and sleeping on the ground. For his holy life the Lord gave the Saint gifts of wonderworking and prophecy. Saint Sergius reposed at Shukhtom Monastery on May 19, 1609 at the age of 50 (or 75).
