Venerable Theodosius of Totemsky was born in 1530 in Vologda. This is a representative of the famous family of the Sumorins, rich and intelligent residents of Vologda. In the period of early adolescence, Theodosius felt an irresistible inclination towards holy monastic life. Parents also wanted him to marry. In marriage, the future devotee of the Orthodox Church was born the only daughter.
After the death of his wife, he left all of his money to relatives for raising his daughter. He himself firmly decided to devote the rest of his life impassive service to God. Theodosius chooses the Savior-Prilutsky Dimitriev Monastery.
During his stay here, the abbot and the brethren loved him very much. After a while pp. Theodosia was given responsible obedience. It consisted in the supervision of the salt barns, located near the town of Totma. Soon, surprisingly to everyone, these barns began to bring a large income. The future holy Russian land with all the diligence and responsibility fulfilled its duties. At the same time, he genuinely cared and advocated people and ordinary locals working here.
Later, Theodosius petitioned the Moscow Metropolitan Macarius to establish a monastery here. After the blessing of the head priest of the Savior Priluki Monastery, he had to live in his chosen place in a hut. Local residents, who favored the monk, helped him to build a dugout and brought him the necessary household utensils and clothes.
In 1554, Theodosius received the blessing of the Metropolitan of Moscow and an approving letter from the tsar on the organization of the monastery. Totemtsy were glad that the saint remains to live next to them and willingly donated allotments of land, money and wood for the erection of buildings.
Being an educated, well-read man, Theodosius sought to the spiritual enlightenment of the monks of the monastery. He collected a fairly rich library containing the most valuable Orthodox spiritual literature. A lot of time was allotted for reading the books of the brethren. Under the vigilant patronage and spiritual instructions of Saint Theodosius, they obtained the necessities of life by the labor of their hands.
January 28, 1568 Theodosius died, blessing his beloved disciples. Before burial, it became known that under his monastic attire, the saint wore a hair shirt and chains that sharply wounded his body. During his lifetime, none of the monks could “suspect” the abbot of such a martyr’s death of the flesh. The face of the saint never reflected fatigue, fatigue, suffering. Back in 1799, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized St. Theodosius as a saint. More than 150 miraculous healings and deliveries from his holy relics are described in Orthodox literature.
