| St. Leonid Ustnedumsky |
Leonid of Ustnedumsky
(1551 - 1654), hieromonk, reverend Memory of July 17, in the Cathedrals of Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Vyatka and Novgorod saints
Born in 1551 in the Novgorod region, in the Annunciation parish of Poshekhonsky district in the family of the peasant Philip and his wife Catherine.
In 1603, when Leonid was already at a respectable age, the Mother of God appeared to him in a dream, commanding the elder to go to the Dvina River in the Morzhevskaya Nikolaev Hermitage, take Her icon from there, called Hodegetria, and transfer the holy image to the Luza River to Turin Mountain.
Considering this revelation to be a random dream, Leonid did not dare to fulfill it and instead went to the Kozheezersky Monastery, where he took monastic vows in 1603 and lived there for a whole year. From there he went to the Solovetsky Monastery, where he also lived for three years, working in a bakery. Finally, convinced by a dream that was recurring to him, he went to the Nikolaev Morzhegorsk hermitage and, after spending a whole year there in monastic labors, revealed his vision to the abbot.
Taking the revealed image of the Lady, he headed to the place that She indicated to him. On the way, he met with a local peasant Nikita Nazarov, who helped the elder build a cell and sent him food. Fulfilling the command of the Mother of God, the Monk Leonid went to Rostov to the Metropolitan to receive a blessing for the construction of the temple. The saint blessed the foundation of the temple and ordained the elder builder as a priest. In 1608, a temple in honor of the Presentation of the Mother of God was built and the revealed image was transferred to it.
The place where the temple stood was low and damp. Then the elder began to dig canals, connecting the lakes with each other and diverting water from the newly built temple. One day while doing this work he was bitten by a snake. Having prayed to God and the Most Holy Theotokos, the monk made it upon his heart not to think about this misfortune and, not paying attention to the wound, continued his work. The Lord preserved the blessed old man and strengthened his strength. The result was a whole man-made river, which, remembering the recent misfortune and God’s help, he named “Neduma”. Over time, the Ust-Nedumskaya desert formed here.
The Luza River often drowned the monastery during floods, so the elder and the brethren had to once again move the temple to a higher place. The consecration of the temple in the new location took place on May 23, 1652. The icon of the Mother of God was transferred to it.
The Lord vouchsafed Saint Leonid a long life, most of which he spent in labor, silence and prayer. He died on July 17, 1654, when he was already more than 100 years old.
Life of St. Leonid of Ustnedumsky
The entire life of this Orthodox saint was spent under the protection of the Lord and in unshakable faith in Christ. Leonid was born in 1551 in the Poshekhonsko-Yaroslavl area. His parents, Catherine and Philip, were simple peasants. Leonid was brought up in love and respect for the Savior. He devoted the first 50 years of his life to his favorite business - farming. He was happy to live from the results of his hard peasant labor.
One day Leonid had a dream in which the Immaculate Virgin commanded him to go to the Morzhevskaya Nikolaev Hermitage, located near the Dvina River in the Arkhangelsk land. The Mother of God said that there, in the temple, there is an image of her in the style of Hodegetria. With this icon you need to go to Turin Mountain, which is located near the Luza River in Usolsky district. In that place, the Mother of God ordered the elder to build a temple and live in it until his death.
Leonid did not attach much importance to the dream. However, he soon left his native land and, at the age of 50, went to the Kozheozersky monastery, located on the territory of the Arkhangelsk lands. There he took monastic vows. Leonid lived for about a year in the monastery, which at that moment was headed by the Venerable Abbot Serapion.
The former farmer liked the monastic life, although he had to constantly pray and fast. Soon Leonid left the monastery. He again dreamed of the Mother of God, who ordered him to take the icon in the Morzhevskaya Hermitage and move it to an area near the Luza River.
Leonid left the Kozheozersk monastery and went to Solovki to venerate the relics of Saints Zosima and Savvaty. He lived in the Solovetsky Monastery for three years as a novice and worked in a bakery. However, even in this place he had, for the third time, a dream in which the Mother of God asked him to go to the Morzhevskaya Hermitage, take her Hodegetria icon and move it to an area near the Luza River. Leonid first told the abbot about his dream. Father Anthony advised him not to resist the will of the Mother of God and to fulfill her wish.
Leonid went to the Morzhevskaya hermitage. There he was favorably received by the abbot of the local monastery, Abbot Cornelius. The elder served in the monastery as a novice for a whole year. Leonid did not say anything to the brethren about the reasons that prompted him to come to this monastery. However, soon the prophetic dream was repeated for the fourth time. In a dream, the Mother of God even showed the place in the church where the blessed icon stood at that moment. The elder had to tell the abbot and the brethren about his dream. The monks agreed to give the holy image to Leonid and even accompanied the icon by ringing church bells.
The elder with the shrine set off on a journey to Mount Turin, located near the Lusa River. In a swampy area located 80 miles from Veliky Ustyug, he built a small house in which he lived and prayed to the Savior for some time. In these places the elder needed to build a monastic monastery. However, the locals did not like this idea, and they drove the monk away.
The elder took the holy icon in his hands and walked with it along the Luza River. Leonid prayed to God and asked him to help. Suddenly he met a man, Nikita Nazarov, the most prosperous farmer in that area. The farmer asked the old man what he was doing in these parts. Leonidas replied that he was looking for a place where he could build a temple for the icon at the behest of the Immaculate Virgin. Nikita took pity on the wanderer and invited him to build a monastery at the place of their meeting. The farmer even helped the elder build a cell. Peasants from nearby villages began to visit the clergyman’s home and listen to his sermons. Soon people built a chapel for the holy image of the Virgin and Child.
In 1608, Leonid went to Rostov to Metropolitan Philaret for his blessing to build a temple and a monastic monastery. The fact is that people from different places came to the monk, wanting to become novices. Metropolitan Philaret blessed Leonid, elevated him to the rank of hieromonk and ordered that he be given the church supplies needed for worship.
The priest returned to his place and, together with like-minded people, built a church in honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos. So in 1608, in the remote and swampy places of Perm, a holy monastery appeared with the icon of Hodegetria. People from nearby villages came to venerate the image.
True, the place for the church was poorly chosen. The temple was often flooded during heavy rains and floods. Then the hieromonk decided to dig a canal to drain the swamp. Leonid was never afraid of hard work, so he set to work himself. A dug canal 2 km long was called the Neduma River, so the monastery erected on this site began to be called Ustnedumskaya.
True, the monastery still suffered from flooding during the annual floods. Then the hieromonk decided to move the monastery to the high cape of Black Lake. Peasants from nearby villages helped the monks build a new monastery. In 1652, with the blessing of Metropolitan Varlaam of Rostov, Archimandrite Arseny illuminated a new church in honor of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple. The miraculous icon with the procession was moved to a new place. Having fulfilled the will of the Immaculate Virgin, the elder soon died. Leonid died in 1654 and was buried in the Ustnedumsky Vvedensky Church.
Orthodox texts
Saint Leonidas, who erected a monastery according to the will of the Mother of God, is glorified by Christians and read prayers to him. The old woman from the heights of heaven helps all repentant sinners.
Troparion
Believers praise Saint Leonidas, who, at the behest of the Mother of God, went to a deserted place to build a monastic monastery. Christians ask the monk to pray to the Savior for them and deliver them from the wiles of the devil.
Troparion to St. Leonid of Ustnedum, tone 1
With divine love and spiritual life/ having been inflamed from youth, O venerable one,/ and everything that is red in the world, having hated,/ you have loved Christ alone with all your heart, O Father,/ an easy yoke upon the race We are all around, / We are guided by Divine Providence and the Most Pure Mother of God with the miraculous appearance / reached the desert/ and in it you labored for many years/ in many toils and tears,/ exhausting your flesh with all kinds of suffering./ Then God, having seen your labors,/ multiplied your children in the desert./ But as having boldness towards God,/ pray for us , thy servants, Father Reverend Leonidas, / may he deliver us from all the slander of the enemy // and save our souls.
Translation: You were inflamed with divine love and spiritual life from your youth, O Reverend, and having hated all worldly goods, you loved Christ alone from your soul, Father, taking a light yoke on your shoulders (Matthew 11:29-30), guided by Divine Providence and the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God You reached the desert and in it you labored for many years in many toils and tears, exhausting your flesh with the patience of all kinds of adversity. Therefore, God, seeing your labors, increased your children in the desert. But, as one who has boldness towards God, pray for us, your servants, Father Reverend Leonidas, that he may deliver us from all the snares of the enemy and save our souls.
Kontakion
Believers glorify Saint Leonidas, who, out of love for the Lord, settled in deserted places, built a monastery and began to preach the law of God. Christians ask the elder to save those whom he has gathered around him.
Kontakion to St. Leonid of Ustnedum, tone 8
Having multiplied all your desires and turned to God / and followed Him irrevocably from the heart, / you moved into the desert and you showed many works in God in it. / In impassable places, sources of water fossilized thou art / and thou hast put to death thy exploits through bodily wisdom, / the way of many you were for salvation./ Moreover, we pray to you:/ save us and as we are gathered, wise, let us call you: // Rejoice, O Reverend Leonidas, desert dweller.
Translation: Having multiplied all your love and directed towards God, following Him with an unwavering will, you settled in the desert and in it you showed many works for God. You dug sources of water in impassable places and killed bodily wisdom with your exploits; for many you were the path to salvation. Therefore we pray to you: save us, whom you have gathered, wise one, and we cry to you: “Rejoice, Saint Leonidas, inhabitant of the desert.”
Prayer
Believers ask Saint Leonidas for consolation, mercy and salvation. Christians pray to the elder to ask the Savior for them to transform their dark lives and cleanse their leper hearts. With the help of the Lord, believers want to defeat the Devil and open their souls to the faith of Christ.
Prayer to St. Leonid of Ustnedumsky
Oh, sacred head, like our Father Leonidas, earthly angel and heavenly man, most bright lamp, illuminating our Priluzsky region! To you, saint of God, inexhaustible from the All-Good Lord of grace and gifts has been given a treasure: with faith, those who come to you to console, to drive away bodily and mental ailments. We come running to you, falling down, and pray: do not despise us, those who pray and ask for your help; Ask us from Christ, may He create a sign for our good and transform our gloomy life, cleanse our leper heart and create a monastery for His dwelling, for without Him we cannot create You are nothing, may all our desires be fulfilled for the good. And so, in pleasing Him, let us defeat the devil who fights us, let us enter where all the saints abide and glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
Akathist
The 13 kontakia and 12 ikos glorify the feat of the venerable elder, who loved the Lord and, at the behest of the Mother of God, built a monastic monastery in a desert area. They sing a song of joy to God's saint.
Kontakion 1
Chosen saint of Christ and wonderworker, Reverend Our Father Leonidas, through the holiness of your life, like a God-bright star, has risen in the country to the north. We sing praises to you, who create your memory with love: you, as if you had boldness towards the Lord, with your prayers from all troubles free those who call you: Rejoice, reverend our father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Ikos 1
In the image of an angel, an earthly being by nature, seeing you, Reverend Father, we glorify the Lord who has glorified you, we cry out to you, His glorious saint, touchingly: Rejoice, living in the world, seeking the Heavenly Fatherland. Rejoice, broad path leading to destruction, despised. Rejoice, you who walked the thorny path to the Kingdom of Heaven. Rejoice, you who make your heart glad with the hope of eternal blessings. Rejoice, you who left your home and relatives for Christ’s sake. Rejoice, lover of monastic life. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 2
The Lord, seeing your heart, burning with love for Him, called you to the path of monastic life: you left your Poshekhonsky region, and directed your steps to the Kozheezersk monastery, singing to the Lord: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The mind is pure and free from passions, ask us, servant of God, so that the vain things in this world may become better, we cry to you, our representative before God: Rejoice, humble ascetic. Rejoice, you have given tonsure to the dead world. Rejoice, you who hate your flesh. Rejoice, having subdued her spirit through prayer and fasting. Rejoice, you who have propitiated the flow of God's tears. Rejoice, victorious over all the machinations of the enemy. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 3
We are strengthened by the power of God, you directed your path to the Solovetsky monastery and there, cutting off your will, you gave in to monastic obedience, humbly singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having a pure thought and an immaculate soul, a novice of God and the Mother of God was attracted, you moved into the Morzhevskaya hermitage and, putting in labor after labor, you appeared as God’s chosen one. Hear us sing to you this: Rejoice, you have gone from place to place and acquired virtues. Rejoice, guided by the Most Pure Virgin, from afar you kissed the place with faith. Rejoice, you came with the icon of Hodegetria to the Luza River and settled there. Rejoice, small chapel, you created a temple in honor of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos. Rejoice, you have sanctified this deaf and thieves region. Rejoice, illuminator of the wild Permians. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 4
Enduring the storm of temptations and troubles from evil people with meekness, you endured great labors: you dug the earth, you were bitten by the serpent, you remained harmless, you are strengthened by your prayer, you cried out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing the names of Christ to people, how the desert forests of your angelic life were fragrant, flowing to you, and you did not reject them, you shepherded them wisely, gathering them in the name of the Lord. For this reason, we bring you great praise: Rejoice, thou who hast given away the intercession of the Mother of God to thy monastery. Rejoice, thou who has done the will of the Lord and taught others to do it. Rejoice, God-wise leader of the monastic face. Rejoice, loving father of your brothers. Rejoice, you who have exhausted your flesh with every kind of evil. Rejoice, thou who by thy mortified the feats of bodily wisdom. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 5
You flowed like a God-bearing star into the world, holy one, from the Ustnedumsky monastery to the Northern region, Blessed Father Leonidas, sowing the seeds of the word of God into people’s hearts and singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing the enemy of human salvation, your heavenly life on earth, throwing arrows of kindled temptations at you, O Leonidas, but you, who are victorious, are strengthened by God’s grace, hear from us: Rejoice, you wearing out your body with a hair shirt. Rejoice, conqueror of the ancient enemy, the ancient serpent. Rejoice, and drive away the material serpents far from you. Rejoice, propitiated by the all-night standing of God. Rejoice, for the fragrant incense of your prayers ascends before the Lord. Rejoice, angels of heaven from the Throne of Heaven to the throne of your temple. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 6
The Priluzsky region preaches your exploits and labors, Reverend Father, and flaunts itself brightly, having acquired you as an assistant and patron. We especially resort to your intercession in our sorrows and call with tenderness to the Lord who glorified you: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You, Reverend Leonidas, shone with the holiness of your life: having come to the Priluzsky region, you truly placed a lamp on the candlestick, burning and shining. With the same light and love, your spiritual children, warmed by you, cry out to you: Rejoice, having driven away all the temptations of youth from your heart. Rejoice, for the sake of the Lord you have chosen a narrow and sorrowful path. Rejoice, you who have exhausted your body with hunger, thirst, filth and heat. Rejoice, having conquered the malice of this world with your patience. Rejoice, all the arrows of the evil one have been scorched by the fire of your prayer. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 7
You had one desire, reverend, to mortify the world and live in the spirit; you fled from vanity and settled in the desert, singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
It’s wonderful, O servant of God, to see how you are bitten by the serpent, the Lord will keep you healthy and unharmed, and with your grace you will step on all the power of the enemy. For this reason we glorify you, father: Rejoice, you who live immaterially in the world. Rejoice, the interlocutor who appeared as an incorporeal angel. Rejoice, you who have cast down satanic pride. Rejoice, lover of the humility of Christ. Rejoice, you who have ascended to the height of dispassion. Rejoice, you who contemplate the heavens on earth. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 8
Having ended your earthly journey, you were exhausted in your flesh, but you were ripe in spirit to settle in the heavenly villages, and having exchanged the corruptible for the incorruptible, sing joyfully to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All your brethren accompanied you with tears and funeral songs: and they carried away your relics and placed them in the temple that you created, where even now they remain hidden, visited by the faithful, who bring you praises: Rejoice, thou who in the fragrance of the sanctuary fell asleep in the sleep of death. Rejoice, thou clothed in the robe of incorruptibility. Rejoice, rejoice in the chamber of the Lord of the House. Rejoice, citizen of Gorny Jerusalem. Rejoice, Holy One of God, glorified by all the saints. Rejoice, mercifully reaching down to us from the heights above. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 9
The angels of heaven joyfully received your soul, O Reverend, in the abode of paradise, where the Lord of Glory Christ crowned you and gave us an intercessor on earth, who sing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
These multi-proclamations will not be able to adequately depict the glory prepared for His saints, even though Father Leonidas received communion. Make us worthy, through your prayers, to achieve this heavenly glory, crying out to you: Rejoice, you can directly see the Holy Trinity through the revealed mirror. Rejoice as you pray to Her for those who honor your memory. Rejoice, listen to the prayers of your children. Rejoice, for you visit them in sorrowful circumstances. Rejoice, for you boldly stand before the face of God for us. Rejoice, for you bow down His mercy to us sinners. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 10
Be a helper to those who want to be saved, deliver us through your intercession from our sins and all kinds of troubles, bring down God’s blessing on those who flow to you, singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
The wall of believers appears strong from the face of the enemy, protecting them from demonic arrows and healing illnesses. Moreover, those honored with your intercession call you with love: Rejoice, our meek and merciful Father. Rejoice, burning with love for God and your neighbors. Rejoice, you who sought solitude and found it in the desert. Rejoice, for you labored for many years in many toils and tears. Rejoice, you who have inherited heavenly rest. Rejoice, for with the angels you have ceaselessly sung a song to God. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 11
We offer all-contrite singing to you, Reverend Father Leonidas, in the place of your labors and rest, hoping to receive mercy from you, but you visit us and with the grace given to you from God, heal those who cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
A light-giving lamp standing before the Throne of God and dispelling the darkness of our passions with the rays of your prayers, we see you, O Reverend Father Leonidas: illumine our hearts, O all-blessed one, that we may worthily cry out to you: Rejoice, most luminous ray, shining forth from the Sun of Christ. Rejoice, and after your repose you will remain with us. Rejoice, you have built the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos of Her Presentation. Rejoice, dearly beloved of him. Rejoice, having sanctified it with monastic chants. Rejoice, this temple, your relics and the river Nedumu have left us a pledge of your love. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Kontakion 12
You who have the same name and have been enriched by it, have conquered enemies and all evil and have taken up residence in the heavenly courts, ask us from Christ God for great mercy, so that we may gratefully sing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing the exploits of your wondrous life, we bow our knees before the honorable relics, resting in secret, with tears of tenderness we cry out to you: Rejoice, resting from all your labors. Rejoice, even though the earth covers your venerable relics, your spirit remains in heaven with your Christ. Rejoice, you await with all the saints the second coming and the final glorification. Rejoice, pray for all who honor your memory. Rejoice, ask for the eternal salvation of those who are zealous for your holy life. Rejoice, for with your love you comfort those who resort to your prayerful intercession. Rejoice, Reverend Father Leonidas, desert dweller.
Used materials
- Life from the official website of the Vyatka diocese:
- Russian Orthodoxy
website page :
[1] Determination of the Consecrated Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church on the church-wide glorification of a number of locally venerated saints
, February 3, 2021, official website of the Russian Orthodox Church, .
[2] Patriarch Kirill approved the celebration of the Council of Saints of the Archangel Metropolis
, official website of the Arkhangelsk Metropolis, February 7, 2021,
[3] “The relics of St. Leonid of Ustnedumsky were found in the Yaran diocese,” official website of the Russian Orthodox Church, June 21, 2021,
