Vonifatij (born Damian Fyodorovich Vinogradsky in 1785) was an Orthodox saint and ascetic monk who lived in the territories of the modern-day Ukrainian region of the Russian Empire. After serving in the military during the Napoleonic Wars, he transitioned from a prosperous life as a landowner to a monastic path. He is primarily remembered for his extensive charitable work in Kyiv, where he established shelters and hospitals for the poor, and for founding the Feofaniya skete near Kyiv, where he served as an abbot.
Life and service
Following his military service, Vonifatij entered the monastery in 1851 and was later ordained as a priest. He was known for his immense generosity, often donating his wealth to help the needy. In Kyiv, he collaborated with other holy men to provide daily meals for hundreds of travelers and the disabled. Later, he founded a skete at Feofaniya, where he oversaw the construction of churches, a hotel for pilgrims, and housing for the impoverished.
Asceticism and death
As an abbot, Vonifatij lived a life defined by constant prayer and rigorous asceticism. He was recognized as a spiritual elder who guided many followers, including Gabriel of Athos. He passed away in late 1871, having predicted the date of his death. Although his exact burial site remains unknown, his spiritual legacy continued through his disciples and the establishment of the Panteleimonovsky skete on the site of his former community.
Veneration
He is venerated in the Orthodox tradition. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church recognized him as a local saint of the Kyiv diocese in 2010, with his feast day observed on December 27. Subsequently, the Russian Orthodox Church established pan-Orthodox veneration for him in 2017, setting his commemoration for February 7.