Saint Gennadius of Kostroma and Liubimograd, born Gregory in Mogilev to a wealthy family, showed an early love for the Church that conflicted with his parents’ wishes. Determined to devote himself to God, he secretly left home and journeyed to Moscow, then to the Novgorod region. An encounter with Saint Alexander of Svir led him to Saint Cornelius of Komel, who tonsured him as Gennadius. Together they later settled in the Kostroma forest, where around 1529 Gennadius founded the Transfiguration Monastery, later called the Gennadiev Monastery. As igumen, he lived in deep humility, laboring alongside the monks, wearing heavy chains, and adorning the monastery with icons he painted himself.

For his holy life, Saint Gennadius was granted the gifts of clairvoyance and wonderworking, including foretelling that Anastasia Romanovna would become Tsaritsa, which was fulfilled when she married Ivan the Terrible. His Life was written by his disciple Igumen Alexis and includes Gennadius’s spiritual testament, urging obedience, constant labor, peace, and devotion to sacred learning. He reposed on January 23, 1565, and was glorified by the Church on August 19, 1646.

Troparion — Tone 8

By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Gennadius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!