Difference between revisions of "Fool-for-Christ"

From OrthodoxWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(this needs work)
 
m
Line 21: Line 21:
 
*Asenatha of Goritsky, Fool-for-Christ ([[April 19]] - repose of) (1892)
 
*Asenatha of Goritsky, Fool-for-Christ ([[April 19]] - repose of) (1892)
 
*Blessed Athanasius Adrewyevich of Orel, Fool-for-Christ ([[April 12]] - repose of) (1967)
 
*Blessed Athanasius Adrewyevich of Orel, Fool-for-Christ ([[April 12]] - repose of) (1967)
*Blessed [[Basil of Moscow|Basil of Moscow, Fool-for-Christ]] ([[August 2]])
+
*Blessed [[Basil the Blessed|Basil of Moscow, Fool-for-Christ]] ([[August 2]])
 
:[http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/August/Aug-02.html#basil Saint Basil the Blessed, Moscow Wonderworker]
 
:[http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/August/Aug-02.html#basil Saint Basil the Blessed, Moscow Wonderworker]
 
*Blessed Cyprian of Suzdal ([[October 2]])
 
*Blessed Cyprian of Suzdal ([[October 2]])

Revision as of 03:27, March 1, 2005

A saint who has the title Fool-for-Christ is one who is known for his apparent, yet holy, insanity. This title in Russian is Yurodivyi.

One form of the ascetic Christian life is called foolishness for the sake of Christ. The fool-for-Christ set for himself the task of battling within himself the root of all sin, pride. In order to accomplish this he took on an unusual style of life, appearing as someone bereft of his mental faculties, thus bringing upon himself the ridicule of others. In addition he exposed the evil in the world through metaphorical and symbolic words and actions. He took this ascetic endeavor upon himself in order to humble himself and to also more effectively influence others, since most people respond to the usual ordinary sermon with indifference. The spiritual feat of foolishness for Christ was especially widespread in Russia. --(Excerpted from The Law of God, Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY: 1993)

Saint Andrew of Constantinople is considered to be the first such saint, although Saint Basil of Moscow is also widely known.


This article or section is a stub (i.e., in need of additional material). You can help OrthodoxWiki by expanding it.


Examples

A list of some of the Fools-for-Christ's sake:

Blessed Andrew, Fool for Christ
The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos
Saint Andrew, Fool-for-Christ - October 2/15
  • Blessed Andrew of Totma, the Fool-for-Christ (October 10)
  • Blessed Anthony Alexseevich, Fool-for-Christ of Zadonsk (September 29 - repose of) (1851)
  • Anthony Ivanovich, Fool-for-Christ of Valaam (June 7 - repose of) (1832)
  • Saint Arsenius of Novgorod, Fool-for-Christ (May 8)
  • Asenatha of Goritsky, Fool-for-Christ (April 19 - repose of) (1892)
  • Blessed Athanasius Adrewyevich of Orel, Fool-for-Christ (April 12 - repose of) (1967)
  • Blessed Basil of Moscow, Fool-for-Christ (August 2)
Saint Basil the Blessed, Moscow Wonderworker
  • Blessed Cyprian of Suzdal (October 2)
  • Blessed George of Shenkursk, Fool-for-Christ (April 23)
  • Saint Isidore the Fool of Tabenna in Egypt (May 10)
  • Venerable Isidore the Fool-for-Christ and Wonder-worker of Rostov (May 14)
  • Blessed John "the Hairy" the Fool-for-Christ at Rostov (September 3 and November 12)
  • Venerable John the Ascetic and Fool-for-Christ
  • Blessed John of Ustiug the Fool-for-Christ (March 14 and May 29 - repose of) (1893)
  • Blessed John of Moscow, Miracle-worker and Fool-for-Christ (July 3)
  • Jonah, Fool-for-Christ of Peshnosha Monastery (June 15 - repose of) (1838)
  • Blessed Laurence the Fool-for-Christ at Kaluga (August 10)
  • Blessed Maximus of Totma (Vologda), Fool-for-Christ (January 16)
  • Venerable Maximus of Moscow the Fool-for-Christ (August 13 - opening of his relics)
  • Venerable Michael the Fool-for-Christ of the Klops Monastery (January 11) (June 23 - translation of his relics)
  • New-Martyr Michael (Misha), Fool-for-Christ (April 1) (1931)
  • Blessed Michael and Thomas, Fools-for-Christ of Solvychegodsk (Vologda) (July 3)
  • Blessed Nicholas of Salos of Pskov the Fool-for-Christ (February 28)
  • Blessed Nicholas Kochanov, Fool-for-Christ at Novgorod (July 27)
  • Blessed Paisius, Fool-for-Christ of the Kiev Caves (April 17 - repose of) (1893)
  • Blessed Parasceva "Pasha of Sarov," Fool-for Christ of Diveyevo Convent (September 22) (1915)
Blessed Praskovya Ivanovna (Pasha of Sarov)
  • Saint Paul, Fool-for-Christ (November 6)
  • Pelagia Ivanovna Serebrennikova
Pelagia Ivanovna a.k.a. Pelagia the Holy Fool
Blessed Pelagia Ivanovna

See also

External Links and Sources

Re: Fools for Christ scroll down for responses to Fools for Christ