Saint Luke of Crimea: Surgeon, Archbishop and Confessor
A professor of surgery who became a bishop, endured years of Soviet prison and exile, and kept treating the sick until he went blind.
Saint Nicholas of Japan: Equal-to-the-Apostles and Enlightener of Japan
A Russian missionary who learned Japanese, translated the Scriptures and the liturgy, and built the Orthodox Church in Japan through the Meiji era.
Saint John the Hairy of Rostov: Fool for Christ and Ascetic
A sixteenth-century holy fool of Rostov the Great whose origins are unknown and who is traditionally said to have died in 1580.
Saint Maximus of Totma: Priest, Fool for Christ and Wonderworker
A Russian priest of the Totma region who lived as a holy fool and died in 1650; locally glorified in 1715.
Saint Nicholas Kochanov of Novgorod: Fool for Christ and Wonderworker
A medieval Novgorod holy fool, traditionally from a wealthy family, who gave up honor and died about 1392.
Saint Procopius of Vyatka: Fool for Christ and Wonderworker of Khlynov
A Russian lay ascetic who lived as a holy fool in Khlynov, now Kirov, and died in 1627.
Saint Parasceva of Diveyevo: Pasha of Sarov, Fool for Christ and Elder of Diveyevo
A former serf who became a wandering ascetic, a holy fool and a spiritual guide of the Diveyevo sisters, and who died in 1915.
Saint John of Ustiug: Fool for Christ and Wonderworker of Veliky Ustyug
Saint John of Ustiug was a young Russian fool for Christ of Veliky Ustyug who lived in poverty and prayer and died in 1494. Read what is documented about him and what is tradition.