Venerable Andronikos, Disciple of Saint Sergius
Saint Andronikos (Andrónikos), a native of Rostov, began his spiritual life under the guidance of the great luminary Saint Sergius of Radonezh. He was a lover of the spiritual life, so Metropolitan Alexei chose Andronikos to be the Igoumen of the new Monastery of the All-Merciful Savior, which he hoped to build, with God's help, in honor of the Icon of the Savior not made by hands, in order to fulfill a vow he made after he was delivered from a great storm at sea when he sailed from Constantinople.
A site was chosen on the Yauza River, the same place where Prince Vsevolod Yurievich engaged the hordes of Batu in a bloody battle. Saint Sergius went there to pray for the new Monastery. In 1361 construction was completed, and Saint Andronikos assumed the duties entrusted to him.
Father Igoumen set an example for the brethren by his strict fasting, meekness, and humility, and these qualities drew many people to the Monastery. They came to learn the Law of God, and some of them even became monks. With the blessing of Saint Alexei, a dormitory was built in the Monastery. Saint Sergius did not neglect to visit his disciple and inspire him to greater ascetical contests (podvigs).
In 1365, Saint Sergius came to venerate the Icon of the Savior not made by hands before setting off on a long journey to Nizhny Novgorod to visit Prince Boris. Then he spoke with Andronikos for a long time. At the place of their farewell a chapel was built. Metropolitan Alexei and Great Prince Demetrios also stayed at the Savior–Andronikov Monastery to pray before the icon of the Savior prior to the Prince's campaign against the Horde (1381).
The spiritual life flourished at the Savior–Andronikov Monastery under the supervision of its vigilant Igoumen. Saint Joseph of Volokolamsk wrote: "Saint Andronikos shone with great virtues. His disciples Savva and Alexander lived with him, and were accomplished iconographers, also Daniel, his disciple Andrew, and many other iconographers were so distinguished by their zeal for fasting and the monastic life that they were honored with Divine grace. Their minds and thoughts were turned to the Divine light, and their eyes looked lovingly at the painted faces of Christ, the Most Pure Mother of God, and of all the Saints."
In 1405 Saint Andrew Rublev painted the walls of the church of the Annunciation, and other icons; in 1408, together with Daniel the Black, he adorned the cathedral church at Vladimir. Then they painted the Savior–Andronikov Monastery. At Saint Nikon's request, their last works were dedicated to the memory of Saint Sergius. The Chronicle says: "Venerable Andronikos hastily gathered painters, excellent men, perfect in virtue, Daniel, his companion Andrew, and their assistants. With God's help, they set to work diligently and adorned the churches with wondrous icons, which remain astonishing to this day.
After living until a ripe old age, Saint Andronikos handed over the administration of the Monastery to his disciple Saint Savva, while he, following the example of his Elder Sergius, began preparing for his departure to everlasting life by his profond silence. The great ascetic reposed in 1404, and was buried in the Cathedral of the Savior–Andronikov Monastery.
In 1812, the French looted the Monastery, yet the relics remained intact. The head disappeared, however. After 1917, the rest of the relics also disappeared.
In 1993, as a result of archaeological research under the ancient altar of the Savior–Andronikov Cathedral, the oldest burials in the Monastery were discovered. Professor Oleg Ulyanov, the scientific director of the excavations, attributed the relics to the founders of the Savior–Andronikov Monastery: Saints Andronikos and Savva of Moscow.
Saint Andronikos is commemorated on June 13 (his blessed repose); on July 6 (Synaxis of the Radonezh Saints); on the second Sunday after Pentecost (All Saints of Russia); and on the Sunday before August 26 (Synaxis of the Moscow Saints).