Orthodox Icon of St. Nil of Stolbensk

St. Nil of Stolbensk Please do not deep-link to any of our icons.

May 27th & December 7th

Saint Nil was tonsured a monk in 1505 at St. Sabbas of Krypetsk Monastery near Pskov. After 10 years, he left the monastery for solitude outside of the city of Ostashkova by the Seremi River. He did battle with the demons and prevailed through prayer and asceticism. Many from that region started to come to him for advice and instruction. He asked God to lead him to a quieter place where he would not be constantly interrupted in his prayers. He heard a voice telling him to go to Stolobnoye Island in Lake Seliger. He moved there in 1528 and dug out a small cave in the hill on the middle of the island. Later, he built a hut. He continued to do battle with the devil and his demons. This led them to prompt someone to set fire to the dense woods on the island, but the flames went out miraculously when they reached the saint's hill. Once, a band of robbers came to the island. Nil told them, "All my treasure is in the corner of the cell." They went to search there for money, but all that was there was an icon of the Theotokos. They became blind, and begged for forgiveness with tears of repentance. St. Nil ministered to them. At the proper time, St. Nil was told to prepare for his death. He dug a grave. An igumen from a nearby monastery visited him to bring him the Eucharist. St. Nil communed, censed the icons in his cell and prayed, then surrendered his soul to the Lord on December 7, 1554. A monastery was established on the island, named for St. Nil. It had a wooden church built over the grave of the saint. In 1667, it was decided to tear down the wooden church and replace it with one out of stone. On May 27, they were digging for the foundation, and the earth gave way to reveal St. Nil's uncorrupt remains. They were translated to the church of the Theotokos of the Sign in Ostashkova.

This icon is Russian from the late 17th century.

Order # pdr-21