Hierarch Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Rostov

Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Rostov, came from a pious family; sources preserve no details of his early life or exact birth date. On September 19, 1262, Metropolitan Cyril II of Kiev presided over his consecration as Bishop of Rostov. He governed the diocese for 26 years, continuing the enlightenment of the Rostov land and the struggle against remnants of paganism.

In 1274 he took part in the Vladimir local council. He is remembered as a peacemaker who reconciled the feuding Rostov princes Demetrius and Constantine Borisovich, in commemoration of which the Church of Boris and Gleb was founded in Rostov. By his prayer, tradition holds, a fire in the city was extinguished.

He reposed on May 28, 1288. At his burial, according to witnesses, his body miraculously rose from the coffin and, seeming to hover in the air, came to rest above the burial place while blessing the people. His holy relics were placed openly in the Rostov Dormition Cathedral. He is venerated as a locally glorified wonderworker of Rostov and is commemorated in the Synaxis of Rostov-Yaroslavl Saints.