Background
Amos (his baptismal name) was born to an ordinary peasant family in the Novgorod Republic, east of Ladoga.
Amos (his baptismal name) was born to an ordinary peasant family in the Novgorod Republic, east of Ladoga.
At the age of 19, he left home for the Valaam Monastery and spent further time of his life as monk, including some period of total isolation from society. In 1506, Serapion, Archbishop of Novgorod, appointed him Hegumen of the Trinity monastery, which later became known as Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, at the place of the saint"s eremitic life between Roschinsky and Holy lakes, 20 km to the east from Lake Ladoga and 6 km from the Svir River. His day is commemorated on April 17 and August 30 according to Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar.