Barsanuphius of Tver

Saint Barsanuphius, Bishop of Tver, former captive of the Tatars and founder of a monastery in Kazan.

Barsanuphius was born in Serpukhov in the fifteenth century and as a youth was captured by the Crimean Tatars, among whom he learned their language while remaining steadfast in the faith. Ransomed by his father, he became a monk.

After the conquest of Kazan he founded the Transfiguration Monastery there and preached to the Tatars in their own tongue. He was later made Bishop of Tver and reposed in the sixteenth century, returning to Kazan in his last years.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Barsanuphius of Tver is commemorated on April 11. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 24 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on April 11

• 

  Antipas of Pergamon

  Martyr, Αντίπας

  Holy Hieromartyr Antipas of Pergamon.

  Name days: Antipas, Andipas

• Tryphaena and Matrona

  Holy Woman, Τρυφαίνη και Ματρώνα

  Venerable Tryphaena and Matrona, holy women commemorated together in the Greek synaxaria.

• Pharmuthios the Anchorite

  Venerable, Φαρμούθιος

  Venerable Pharmuthios, anchorite of Egypt, who fed Saint John of the Well.

• George of the Chrysostom Monastery

  Venerable, Γεώργιος ο εν Κύπρω

  Venerable George, founder of the Monastery of Saint John Chrysostom at Koutsovendis in Cyprus.

• Callinicus of Cernica

  Hierarch, Καλλίνικος ο εκ Ρουμανίας

  Saint Callinicus of Cernica, Bishop of Ramnic, ascetic and builder of churches in Romania.

• Processus and Martinian

  Martyr, Πρόκεσσος και Μαρτινιανός

  Holy Martyrs Processus and Martinian, jailers of Rome converted by the Apostles Peter and Paul.