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| St. Tryphon of Pechenga (Feast Day - December 15) |
Venerable Tryphon of Pechenga and Kola, in the world Metrophanes, was born in June 1495 in the Novgorod region into a priestly family. The pious parents raised their son in the fear of God. From his early years Tryphon had resolved to devote his life to apostolic deeds and to go to the pagan Laplanders and proclaim the gospel of Christ. He knew of them only through the accounts of fish vendors.
Once, while praying in the forest he had heard a voice, “Tryphon, this is not your place. An empty and thirsty land awaits you.” Forsaking his parental home, the Saint went out onto the Kola Peninsula and halted at the banks of the Pechenga River, where the Lapps lived. There he began to carry on trade with them. The Saint first acquainted himself with the pagan beliefs of these people and studied their language, and then began to preach the Christian faith to them. The Lapps greeted the words of the Saint with great mistrust. The holy preacher suffered much hardship, enduring hostility and even beatings. But gradually, through his wise and kindly words and meekness, many were converted to Christ.
