Saint Paul of Taganrog was born on November 8, 1792, into a noble family in Chernigov province. In the world, his name was Pavel Pavlovich Stozhkov. His parents wanted to give him an education and provide him with a decent position in society, but from a young age his heart yearned for prayer, spiritual life and pilgrimage to holy places.
At the age of twenty-five, Pavel made a decision that determined his entire future. Following the gospel words: "Sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven" (Luke 18:22), he distributed his portion of the estate, set the peasants free, and, receiving his father's blessing, set out to wander through the holy mansions.
His wandering life continued for about ten years. Then Pavel settled in Taganrog. Forgetting about his noble origin, he lived simply and modestly: he spoke the vernacular Little Russian dialect, lived in a dugout, worked hard at the port and devoted all his free time to prayer. Gradually, people began to see in him a man of extraordinary spiritual power. People came to him for advice, comfort, and support.
In his old age, the righteous Pavel left the port work and settled in a small house, but his life was still a feat of prayer and service to people. Every day, at the first stroke of the church bell, he went to the cathedral, prayed for the Divine Liturgy, adjusted the lamps and wiped the holy icons. To do this, he carried a small stool with him, and a white towel on his shoulders.
After the temple, the saint usually went to the bazaar. With two canvas bags and a stick in his hands, he walked around the shopping malls, instructed, comforted and rebuked those who needed spiritual guidance. He did not accept alms from everyone: people saw this as a special spiritual reasoning of the elder.
Paul spent his nights in prayer, often on his knees. The Jesus prayer did not leave his mouth, and he taught this prayer to all who came to him. He was especially fond of temples and church shrines, donated icons, lamps, candles, and oil, and taught people to be faithful in small things, to reverently treat everything that sanctifies the life of a Christian.
The Lord gave the righteous Paul spiritual gifts — clairvoyance and healing. People came to him with sorrows, illnesses and everyday troubles. He kept some of them to live with him, as if in obedience. Under the guise of simplicity, and sometimes assumed severity, the saint hid his deep love for man. If a man with unrepentant sins came to him, he did not directly rebuke him, but through the guidance of the novices revealed what could lead the newcomer to repentance.
By the power of God's grace, the righteous Paul saw both the state of the human soul and much of the future. He predicted a great ministry for his confessor, Hieromonk Damian. These words came true: in 1897, Father Damian was appointed Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem.
By the end of his earthly life, the saint's powers were weakening, but his soul was still burning with love for God and people. The Lord revealed to him the day and hour of his death. The day before, he ordered to write a letter to his relatives asking them to attend his funeral. On March 10, 1879, having received communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, the righteous Paul peacefully departed to the Lord.
The local glorification of the Righteous Paul of Taganrog took place on June 20, 1999 in Taganrog. On the day of canonization, more than ten thousand believers came to worship the saint. His venerable relics were solemnly transferred from the All-Holy Church in the old cemetery to St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog. The glorification was accompanied by numerous miracles.
Russians Russian Orthodox Church's Bishops' Council decided on February 2-3, 2016, that the name of Saint Paul of Taganrog was included in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church for ecclesiastical veneration.
The memory of the righteous Pavel of Taganrog reminds of the power of humility, prayer and love for God. He renounced wealth and position, but acquired the main treasure — purity of heart and grace, which continues to comfort and strengthen believers even after his death.