The life of St Nilus of Stolobensk
His reputation for holiness drew increasing numbers of visitors seeking his counsel, a burden he had not sought and prayed to be released from; in answer, he came to believe he heard a voice directing him to the island of Stolobnoye on Lake Seliger, where in 1528 he settled in true isolation at last. There he practiced an unusually severe discipline, reportedly refusing ever to lie down to sleep and resting instead braced upright against wooden supports built into his cell wall. He remained on the island until his death on December 7, 1554, and the monastery later built on the site of his labors came to bear his name and draw pilgrims from across Russia.
