Venerable Bartholomew of Simonov

Venerable Bartholomew of Simonov labored at the Simonov Monastery in Moscow, founded by St. Theodore, a disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh. From 1436, under Grand Prince Vasily II, Venerable Bartholomew served as builder (steward) of the monastery, caring first for the spiritual formation of the brethren and only then for practical matters — the refectory, bakery, and life of the cells. He carefully preserved the strict communal rule bequeathed by the disciples of St. Sergius. Together with the monks Ignatius the icon-painter and John called "the Golden," he firmly resisted relaxations of the rule introduced by some later abbots, enduring considerable hardship from his superiors as a result. Despite being lame in one foot, Venerable Bartholomew labored tirelessly until the end of his life and reposed in the Lord in 1442.