Barlaam of Kiev

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Barlaam of Kiev[1] (died 1065) was the first abbot of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, serving together with St. Anthony of Kiev. He is regarded as a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church, with a feast day of 19 November.[2]

Forensic facial reconstruction by S. A. Nikitin
Saint Barlaam of Kyiv Caves

Biography

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Barlaam was born sometime between the late 10th century and early 11th century to a boyar.[2]

He was tonsured a monk against the wishes of his father by St. Nikon of the Kiev Caves.[3]

In 1058, he built a wooden church dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos with the blessing of St. Anthony.[3]

Barlaam made 2 pilgrimages in his life, first to the Holy Land in 1062,[4] followed by a second pilgrimage to Constantinople afterwards.[2]

Soon after his second pilgrimage, Barlaam died in 1065 in the Zymne Monastery.[2] He was buried on his orders in the Caves of St. Anthony.[3]

Veneration

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Saint Barlaam of Kiev is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. His primary feast day is on 19 November, however he is also commemorated on 28 September and on the Second Sunday of Great Lent.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ Russian: Варлаам Печерский, romanizedVarlaam Pecherskiy, Ukrainian: Варлаам Печерський, romanizedVarlaam Pecherskyi
  2. ^ a b c d e "Venerable Barlaam, Abbot of the Kiev Near Caves". www.oca.org. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  3. ^ a b c d "Venerable Barlaam, abbot of the Kiev Caves (1065)". www.crkvenikalendar.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  4. ^ C. R. Beazley (1900), "The Oldest Monument of Russian Travel", Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, 14, p. 175.