Procopius of Ustyug (Russian: Прокопий Устюжский) or Procopius of Lübeck (Russian: Прокопий Любекский; German: Prokop(ius) von Ustjug und Lübeck; July 8, 1303)[1] was a fool for Christ (yurodivy) and miracle worker, formerly a merchant from Lübeck. He was canonized as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church.
Saint Procopius of Ustyug | |
|---|---|
 16th century icon | |
| Wonderworker and Fool for Christ | |
| Born | Lübeck |
| Died | July 8, 1303 Veliky Ustyug |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodoxy |
| Canonized | 1547 by Russian Orthodox Church |
| Feast | July 8 |
Life
editThough he is sometimes identified as one Jacob Potharst, son of a Lübeck merchant, Procopius' worldly name, surname, date and place of birth are not reliably determined. In 1818, the universal celebration of the saint was established.[2]
Born in Lübeck, Germany, he was a Roman Catholic merchant who converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity during his travels.[3]
St. Procopius lived as a fool for Christ (yurodivy) for 60 years. In 1290, he predicted the fall of a meteorite near Veliky Ustyug, as well as tornado and conflagration.
Veneration
editProcopius was canonized as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1547.[4]
The incorrupt relics of St. Procopius were discovered in the 18th century near the Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple Church in Veliky Ustyug and placed in the church, where they remained in open view for two hundred years, being the putative source of numerous healings.[5]
References
edit- ^ San Procopio di Ustiug
- ^ "Commemorated on July 8". Orthodox Church in America. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ Владимир Станулевич — Прусский купец и русский святой Прокопий Устюжский — ИА REGNUM
- ^ Bushkovitch, Paul (28 May 1992). Religion and Society in Russia: The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Oxford University Press. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-19-536152-0.
- ^ "Righteous Procopius the Fool-For-Christ and Wonderworker of Ustya, Vologda". Orthodox Church in America.
External links
edit - "Life of Procopius of Ustyug" (in Russian). bibliotekar.ru.
- Ekkart Sauser (1994). "Prokopius von Ustjug". In Bautz, Traugott (ed.). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German). Vol. 7. Herzberg: Bautz. cols. 994–995. ISBN 3-88309-048-4.