Venerable (Monastic) 17th century

Saint Philip of Sukhona

d. 1662

Also known as Philip of Yankov Mountain

A hermit on Mount Yankov by the Sukhona River, around whose place of ascetic struggle a monastery later grew.

Feast Day

August 17

Draft

Draft — pending review. Not yet verified for publication.

Hymn / Apolytikion Icon gallery Video / Media

Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Philip, Hermit of Sukhona

Life

Saint Philip of Sukhona was a seventeenth-century Russian ascetic who lived as a hermit on Mount Yankov, on the left bank of the Sukhona River, about two versts from the city of Ustiug. He is venerated as a Venerable (monastic) saint, and his memory is kept on August 17.

The reputation of his ascetic life drew the people of Ustiug, who founded a monastery at the site of his struggles so that they could pursue the monastic life under his direction. Although his guidance was sought by many, Philip in his humility declined to accept the office of igumen, and he died at the monastery as a simple monk.

Timeline 2 moments Read Hide

1654 A monastery and church rise at the hermitage The inhabitants of Ustiug, gathering around Philip's place of ascetic labor, built a church in honor of the Mother of God 'Of the Sign,' with a chapel dedicated to Saint Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow.
August 17, 1662 Repose Philip died at the monastery that had grown around his hermitage. Having declined leadership throughout, he reposed as a simple monk.

Contributions & Legacy

1 contributions Read Hide

Hermitage and Monastery

Philip settled as a solitary on Mount Yankov, on the left bank of the Sukhona River near Ustiug, in the Russian North. His ascetic example attracted others who wished to learn the monastic life from him, and the townspeople established a monastery on the site of his labors.

When the community built its church in 1654, it was dedicated to the Mother of God under the title 'Of the Sign,' with a side chapel honoring Saint Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow. Though sought after as a spiritual guide, Philip refused, out of humility, to be made igumen of the community, and remained an ordinary monk until his death.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints