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St. Cornelius, abbot of Palei Island (Valaam) (1420), and his disciple St. Abramius Commemorated on August 21 The Ven. Cornelius
was born in Pskov. Early having left the world, he thirsted for the strict monastic life and
strict asceticism. Having left through Finland to the shores of the White Sea, drawing
upon his zealousness in preaching the Gospel, he worked hard here, wandering in the
dense forests, from settlement to settlement, quite often in danger of being lost or
attacked by wild animals, or being killed by the followers of paganism. But the Lord
protected the righteous one, and his apostolic activity was fruitful. Then reaching up to
the small Paley Island on Lake Onega, the Venerable One decided to settle here for
solitary asceticism and a life of contemplation. He constructed a small hut on this island,
and devoted all his life to that of a hermit. The asceticism of the venerable one and his
righteous life soon attracted many thirsting for help and spiritual strengthening and many
visited the hut of the ascetic. They did not leave Paley Island any more, but remained to
share prayerful work with the venerable one. The Venerable Cornelius did not interfere
with their pious desire to work for the Lord. Having constructed cells for the newcomers
near his hut, and then a small temple in honor and glory of the Nativity of the Virgin, the
venerable one founded the Paleostrovskii Monastery, becoming its first hegumen. The
management of the monastery involuntarily diverted the Venerable Cornelius from his
rule of prayer and asceticism and he frequently, for observance of the rules went out to
build a natural cave at the foot of one of the rocky mountains and there he practiced his
ascetic fast and prayer, carrying on himself a heavy iron chain. Shortly before his death,
the venerable one late at night during his prayer in the cave became worthy of the
wonderful appearance of the Savior with a cross in His hands before him, and who
blessed the humble ascetic and his monastery. The wonderful appearance was so
delightful for the venerable one that he decided not to leave the cave where he became
worthy of the beneficial vision. Having given his blessing to the brotherhood, and having
installed his favorite disciple Abramius as the head of the monastery, he left for the cave
for ever, as though having shut himself in it from all memory of the world, and here he
soon reposed in peace in the Lord, about the year 1420. |
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