Holy Righteous Isidor of Kerzhenets (of Kozmodemyansk) #
During the years of persecution against the Old Orthodox Christians, a considerable number of priests who had not renounced their faith abandoned their homes and churches, where worship according to the old books had become impossible. They fled to remote, deserted places beyond the reach of Moscow authorities, founding new Christian settlements or settling in already existing monasteries of the “Old Faith.”
One such priest was Father Isidor of Kozmodemyansk, who had been ordained before the reforms of Nikon. History has preserved very little information about him. In the 1660s or 1670s, he arrived at the Kerzhenets River, to the Skete of Smolyany, and remained a steadfast adherent of Old Church piety until the end of his life. He was “a man of all caution, a guardian of ancient piety, and a strict observer of the rules of the holy fathers.”
In his zeal for the faith, Father Isidor at first believed that all those baptized according to the new rites must be rebaptized. But a council of elders at Kerzhenets judged this opinion to be incorrect: those baptized by the New Ritualists with triple immersion were to be anointed with holy chrism only, while those who had been baptized by pouring were to be baptized anew, according to the canons of the Church. Father Isidor, realizing his former error, immediately submitted to the council’s decision.
Father Isidor led his life in fasting and prayer, in night vigils and full prostrations. He had many spiritual children among the Old Orthodox laity and performed all necessary sacraments and services for them: he baptized, crowned in marriage, heard confessions, administered Communion, and anointed the sick. He guided many souls into the Heavenly Kingdom, where he himself reposed at the time appointed by the Lord, in deep old age—“whom God glorified with the incorruption of his body and by working miracles.”
The grave of Saint Righteous Isidor at Kerzhenets was lost as a result of the brutal persecutions against the Old Believers.
His memory is kept on May 14 according to the Church calendar (May 27 on the civil calendar).
Tropar to the Righteous Isidor of Kerzhenets, Presbyter — Tone 8
Celebrating the memory of the good shepherd Isidor, we entreat Thee, O Christ God: send peace upon Thy Church and great mercy upon all Christians.
Kondak — Tone 4
Pillar of the Church, defender of the Orthodox Faith, good shepherd, all-praised Father Isidor, pray to Christ God to grant salvation to all who with love celebrate thy holy memory.
Ikos
Following the Good Shepherd Christ, thou wast shown to be a true shepherd of His sheep, driving away soul-destroying wolves, conquering every heresy opposed to the truth by the power of thy words; thou didst remain faithful to the end, and for this didst obtain an incorruptible crown. Rejoicing in the heavens, thou beholdest the Master Christ, and now, O Father Isidor, pray Him to grant salvation to all who with love celebrate thy holy memory.