The memory of St. Ignatius, Bishop of Rostov

St. Ignatius was born of pious parents and was brought up by them in every Christian virtue. Believing in the vanity of this world, he renounced the world and accepted the consecration to the monastery.

Having taken the diocese of Rostov under his care, he shepherded his flock with great care. After being in the priesthood for twenty-six years, he turned to the Lord in the summer of 6796 from the creation of the world, the birth of God the Word in the flesh in 1288, on the 28th day of May, on Friday, after the evening.

The monks of this monastery worked hard to convert the monks and nuns to Christianity. In 1274, St. Ignatius attended the local Vladimir Cathedral. Twice the saint had to undertake a difficult journey to the ordained ministry to intercede for his diocese.

When the whole city of Rostov learned of the saint's death, they gathered around his body; all wept and wept bitterly, lamenting the death of the common shepherd and teacher of all, the helper and advocate in trouble and sorrow, the beggar of widows and orphans, the feeder of the poor and needy, the mentor and teacher of the hierarchical and monastic rank and the advisor of princes and nobles.

After taking the body of St. Ignatius, they all carried him to the church, but because of the crowd, they could not bring him inside the church, but placed him in front of the church; after that, funeral hymns began to be sung.

And two godly women, named Theodosius, the wife of Paul the archdeacon, were passing by; and they were married, and promised themselves to be virgins, and to live a chaste life, fasting and praying all the days of their lives.

When she heard of the death of St. Ignatius, she came to worship his relics, accompanied by another nun named Xenia, who led a virtuous and godly life.

When the relics of St. Ignatius were brought to the church, the saint rose from the tomb in his priestly garb, walked through the air and stood high in the air above the church; then he blessed all the people and the whole city; then he entered the cave dug in the ground near the altar, where he was prepared a coffin.

But God revealed it to them, and to certain other godly men, that they might glorify his pleasure, and make his holiness known to all; and the Lord showed them that St. Ignatius had obtained mercy from the Lord, and had been made equal with the saints.

At about the same time another miracle occurred: a certain archimandrite, Stephen, had one finger folded to his palm since his birth; when he touched the body of St. Ignatius, his crooked finger was straightened and restored to health, as were his other fingers.

The next morning they all gathered again at the relics of St. Ignatius to perform the usual service and to sing funeral hymns. When they laid the body of St. Ignatius in the coffin and handed him the scrolls in which were written the names of all those whom St. Ignatius had consecrated to the priesthood and the diaconate, St. Ignatius, as if alive, reached out his hand and accepted the scrolls.

When they saw this, they were all filled with awe and praised God.

"Blessed are you who have received from God the gift of miracles, Father Ignatius. Pray to Christ God, that he may save our souls.