Venerable Savva, Abbot of Vishera, Novgorod

Saint Savva of Vyshera was the son of the noble boyar Ivan Borozda of Kashin. From his youth Savva was noted for his piety. As a young man, he was attracted to monasticism, and he was tonsured in one of the monasteries at Tver. Then he settled in the wilderness (later called the Saint Savva-Tver Hermitage) about twenty versts from Tver. Seeing Saint Savva's virtuous life, the brethren chose him as their Igoumen. Disdaining honors, he left around 1411 and went to Mount Athos. He returned from the Holy Mountain with a copy of The Rudder, a book containing the Canons of the Ecumenical and local Councils of the Orthodox Church, which was used subsequently by Archbishop Bassian (Ryle) of Rostov.

After his return from Mount Athos, Saint Savva's chose a solitary spot seven versts from Novgorod, on the banks of the Vyshera River. Here, with the blessing of Archbishop Simon of Novogorod, the Saint founded a small monastic community in 1418, and dedicated it to the Ascension of the Lord. Saint Savva set up a pillar near the monastery and lived as a stylite.

Saint Savva reposed in 1461 at the advanced age of 80. As his successor, he appointed his disciple Andrew, who was known for his strict ascetical life.

Saint Savva's local veneration was approved by Archbishop Jonah of Novgorod (+ 1470), after the Igoumen of Saint Savva - Vyshera Monastery was healed after praying to the Saint.Then Archbishop Jonah commissioned an icon of Saint Savva to be painted, as well as a Canon composed in his honor.

The Church-wide glorification of Saint Savva took place at the Moscow Council of 1549. A Church Service was composed by the Serbian Hieromonk Pakhomios.