Barlaam of Khutyn

Russian hermit and saint (d. 1192)

Saint

Barlaam of Khutyn

Icon of Barlaam, 16th century

Venerable
Born| c. 1112
Died| November 8, 1192(1192-11-08) (aged 79–80)
Khutyn
Venerated in| Eastern Orthodox Church Russian Greek Catholic Church
Feast| 6 November

Barlaam or Varlaam of Khutyn (Russian: Варлаам Хутынский; secular name: Aleksa or Aleksy;[1] (c. 1112 – 13 November [O.S. 6 November] 1192/1193)[2] was a Russian Orthodox hegumen and saint who founded the Khutyn Monastery.

## Life

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He was born into a wealthy family from Novgorod.[1] After the death of his parents, he became a hermit on the Volkhov and handed all of his inheritance to the poor.[1] He went to live in solitary at Khutyn, where he built a wooden chapel.[1]

At this time, he had gained many followers as his reputation for holiness was spreading.[2] So great were their numbers that he founded a monastery, the Khutyn Monastery, which was dedicated to Christ's transfiguration.[1] He also took the name of Barlaam (Varlaam), and among the benefactors of the monastery was Yaroslav, the prince of Novgorod.[2]

Barlaam died on 6 November 1192 or 1193, and his grave became a site for pilgrimage.[3][2] Prior to his death, he had nominated a monk by the name of Antony to succeed him.[2] Barlaam's relics were enshrined in 1452 and the Serbian monk Pachomius wrote about his life.[2] He is commemorated in Russian liturgy when bread and wine is being prepared.[2]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e Butler & Burns 1995, p. 47.
2. ^ a b c d e f g Butler & Burns 1995, p. 48.
3. ^ "ВАРЛААМ ХУТЫНСКИЙ - Древо". drevo-info.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-06-18.

## Bibliography

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* "Варлаам, преподобный хутынский" . Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (in Russian). 1906.
* Butler, Alban; Burns, Paul (1 January 1995). Butler's Lives of the Saints. A&C Black. pp. 47–48\. ISBN 978-0-86012-260-9.

## External links

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* Overview at bogolub.narod.ru

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*[c.]: circa