Amphilochius of Pochayiv facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amphilochius of Pochayiv |
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Portrait of Saint Amphilochius
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| Saint | |
| Born | 27 November 1894 Mala Ilovitsia |
| Died | 1 January 1971 (aged 76) |
| Venerated in | Ukrainian Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | 11 May 2002 |
Amphilochius of Pochayiv (Ukrainian: Амфілохій Почаївський) was a very respected 20th-century Ukrainian Orthodox saint. He lived in western Ukraine and was known for his kindness and for helping many people. He was famous for his ability to heal the sick and perform miracles.
Early Life and Helping Others
Amphilochius of Pochaiv was born Yakov Golovatyuk on November 27, 1894. His family lived in a small village called Mala Ilovytsia in western Ukraine. This village was surrounded by mountains and forests.
Yakov was one of ten children. His father, Varnava, was a skilled craftsman who also helped people with bone injuries. Yakov often helped his father care for those who came seeking help. This early experience taught him a lot about healing.
In 1912, Yakov joined the army. During the First World War, he worked as a medical helper in a hospital. Later, he served as a medic on the battlefield. He was captured by the Austrians and worked on a farm for three years before he managed to escape and return home.
Becoming a Monk
After the war, Yakov felt called to a religious life. In 1925, he went to the Pochaiv monastery, a very important religious center. There, he worked hard, building things and singing in the choir. He always showed humility and obedience.
On July 8, 1932, Yakov became a monk and was given the name Joseph. A few years later, on September 27, 1936, he became a priest.
Joseph spent a lot of time praying in front of the special icons at Pochaiv. He was put in charge of the "God's Mother's Foot," which is a rock footprint believed to be left by the Virgin Mary during an appearance around 1240.
A Healer and Miracle Worker
Because of his earlier work with his father and his time as a medic, Father Joseph had a special skill for healing. Many people came to the monastery to ask for his help. The head of the monastery allowed him to live in a small house near the cemetery. This way, he could help people without disturbing the other monks.
For 20 years, Father Joseph helped the sick. People believed he had the gift of healing.
Later, the government tried to stop people from seeing him. Father Joseph resisted their attempts to close the monastery. He was taken away, but eventually, he was released. After his release, he was not allowed to return to the monastery.
So, he went to live with his nephew in his home village. There, he continued to help people for many years. He often led special prayers and blessed water in his yard. Many believed that God had given him the power to see the future and perform miracles.
One day, he was badly beaten and left in an icy swamp. When he was found, he was taken back to the monastery. Thinking he was dying, the monks gave him a special blessing and a new name: Amphilochius. This was in honor of another holy person, Saint Amphilochius of Iconium.
Amphilochius slowly got better. Since he couldn't stay at the monastery, he returned to his village. He continued his important work of healing and helping people until he passed away.
He died on January 1, 1971, at the age of seventy-six. On April 23, 2002, Elder Schema-abbot Amphilochius was officially recognized as a saint.
