Saint Procopius of Ustyug | |
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Born | unknown |
Died | July 8, 1303 Veliky Ustyug |
Canonized | XVII c. by Russian Orthodox Church |
Feast | July 8 |
Procopius of Ustyug (Russian: Прокопий Устюжский or Святой Прокопий Любекский, German: Prokopius von Ustjug und Lübeck; ? — July 8, 1303[1] in Veliky Ustyug) was a fool for Christ (yurodivy), a miracle worker, saint of Russian Orthodox Church, formerly a merchant from Lübeck. He was born in Germany, a Roman Catholic merchant who converted to eastern Orthodox Christianity during his travels.[2]
Though he is sometimes identified as one Jacob Potharst, son of a Lübeck merchant, Procopius' worldly name, surname, date and place of birth are not reliably determined . In 1818 the universal celebration of the saint was established.[3]
St. Procopius lived as yurodivy for 60 years. In 1290 he predicted the fall of meteorite near Veliky Ustyug, as well as tornado and conflagration.