Pall with the Images of saints Sergy and Nikon of Radonezh, 1569, 205 x 96. Needlework. From the Trinity-Saint-Sergy Lavra. Sergiev Posad Museum-Reserve of History and Art

Ivan Feodorovich Zubov. The view of Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra with saints Sergiy and Nikon of Radonezh. After 1734

SAINT NIKON OF RADONEZH

The closest disciple of St. Sergy and the second hegumen of the Trinity cloister. Born in Yuriev-Polskoy, not far from the Trinity-St. Sergy Monastery where he came to take monastic vows. St. Sergy gave him his blessing and sent to the Vysokoye Monastery in Serpukhov to his disciple St. Afanasy, who, at the youth's insistence, professed him. After his ordination, Nikon returned to the Trinity cloister in 1382. Sergy came to love him for his rare piety and became his friend and tutor. After the saint's demise St. Nikon, with his meekness, compassion and wisdom, won the love of the brethren and numerous pilgrims. Soon, however, he took the vows of silence, and passed hegumenship to St. Savva. In six years, at the request of the monks, he came back to administer the monastery.

Before his demise St. Nikon willed to honour the behests of St. Sergy and to hate idleness. He passed away in mature old age. He was canonized at the 1547 Council. In 1548 St. Nikon's side chapel was erected over his grave. Feast day-November 17(30).