Pavel of Taganrog was a 19th-century Russian Orthodox ascetic who lived a life of extreme piety and wandering. Born Pavel Pavlovich Stozhkov in 1792 to a noble family in Krolevetsky Uyezd, he rejected his wealthy upbringing to pursue spiritual devotion. After years of traveling to various monasteries, he eventually settled in Taganrog, where he lived as a humble hermit. Despite his high-born origins, he adopted the simple clothing and speech of a peasant, dedicating his remaining years to constant prayer and fasting.
Life and asceticism
After leaving his family home to avoid secular distractions, Stozhkov spent much of his youth as a pilgrim, visiting holy sites such as the Kiev Pechersk Lavra and several northern monasteries. In Taganrog, he lived a monastic existence without being formally ordained. He practiced rigorous fasting, often consuming very little food, and slept on a simple bench. He remained dedicated to his faith through frequent prayer vigils and long-distance walking pilgrimages.
Veneration and legacy
The Russian Orthodox Church canonized him in 1999. His remains are preserved at the Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Church in Taganrog, the city he called home. Local tradition identifies a specific house near the church as his former cell. He is commemorated annually on November 21.