Abraham of Paleostrov

Abraham of Paleostrov, also known as Avraamy Paleostrovsky or Avraamy Olonetsky, was an Eastern Orthodox saint who lived in Russia and died around 1460. He served as a hegumen, or abbot, of the Monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary located in Paleostrov.

Life and Ministry

Abraham was a disciple of the revered Cornelius of Paleostrov. He came to Cornelius after his spiritual father had settled in a cave on Paley Island in Lake Onega. The Paleostrovsky Monastery itself was founded by Cornelius, likely between 1415 and 1421. Abraham, along with other disciples of Cornelius, was involved in the construction of the monastery's churches, including those dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Elijah the Prophet, and Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as the monks' caves.

During Cornelius's lifetime, Abraham was appointed as his successor. Following Cornelius's death around 1420, Abraham buried him in the cave on Paley Island. Later, the relics of Cornelius were transferred to the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. Abraham himself died in the mid-15th century and was buried in the same Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, near his spiritual father.

Veneration

The exact date of Abraham Paleostrovsky's local canonization is not recorded, possibly due to the devastation of the Palaeostrovsky Monastery twice in the 17th century, which led to the loss of most of its archives. Local veneration of both Abraham and Cornelius was documented at the beginning of the 19th century. Archbishop Sergius (Spassky) assigned their feast day to August 21st. In recognition of his sanctity, Abraham Paleostrovsky was included in the Synaxis of the Karelian Saints in 1974 and later in the Synaxis of the Novgorod Saints in 1981. His feast day is celebrated annually on August 21st within the Russian Orthodox Church.