Barlaam of Khutyn

Saint Barlaam
Born	Veliky Novgorod, Novgorod Republic
Died	6 November 1192/3 Khutyn, Novgorod, Novgorod Republic
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church
Feast	6 November

Barlaam of Khutyn (Template:Lang-ru), also known as Varlaam, was a hermit. Born Alexis Michalevich to a wealthy family from Novgorod. After the death of his parents, he became a hermit on the Volkhov and handed all of his inheritance to the poor. At this time, he had gained many followers. So great were their numbers that he founded a monastery, the Khutyn Monastery of Saviour's Transfiguration, and took the name of Barlaam (Varlaam). He died on 6 November 1192, and his grave has become a site for pilgrimage.

Varlaam is famous for healing the Grand Prince Vasily (from a family of Riazan boyars) when the prince was visiting Novgorod. Later, he became a patron of the city of Vologda. He was also an accomplished painter, and painted several murals in the Gothic style in Novgorod, none of which survived destruction during the Second World War.

References

• Overview at bogolub.narod.ru