Venerable
Blessed, Fool for Christ Andrew of Simbirsk
4 июля 1763 — †10 декабря 1841
Also known as: Андрей Огородников
Blessed Andrew of Simbirsk (born Andrei Ilyich Ogorodnikov), Fool for Christ — born to a poor tradesman's family in Simbirsk in 1763, he took up the ascetic feat of foolishness from the age of seven; he kept a vow of fasting and silence, and was a parishioner of the Ascension Cathedral; canonized as a nationwide saint in 2004.
Blessed Andrew, born Andrei Ilyich Ogorodnikov, was born on July 4, 1763, in the city of Simbirsk to a poor tradesman's family. From the age of seven he took up the difficult ascetic feat of foolishness for Christ's sake. He kept a strict fast, eating only bread and boiled dried berries, and on feast days tea with honey, as well as a vow of silence. He remained a parishioner of the Ascension Cathedral of Simbirsk throughout his life, receiving Holy Communion weekly. He died on December 10, 1841. On June 3, 1998, his relics were found, and he was glorified as a locally-venerated saint; on October 6, 2004, by decree of the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, Blessed Andrew was numbered among the nationwide saints. His memory is kept on June 3 (finding of relics) and December 10 (day of repose).