Venerable Barnabas of Gethsemane (Merkulov)

Venerable Barnabas, born Vasily Ilyich Merkulov, was born on January 24, 1831. He took monastic vows and was made elder of the Chernigov cave skete at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where he bore the labor of eldership, receiving an unending stream of pilgrims seeking spiritual counsel, comfort, and healing. He was distinguished by clairvoyance and the gift of discernment; among the many spiritual children of Venerable Barnabas was the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Tikhon (Bellavin). He founded the Iversky Convent for women in the city of Vyksa, Nizhny Novgorod Governorate. He died on February 17, 1906. He left behind records of spiritual teachings. His memory is kept on February 17/March 2 (day of repose), as well as in the Synaxis of Nizhny Novgorod Saints (Sunday after August 26/September 8) and the Synaxis of Radonezh Saints (July 6/19).