St. Ignatius (in the world Dmitry Alexandrovich Bryanchaninov) was born on February 5, 1807 in his father's family estate, the village of Pokrovsky, Vologda province. His mother gave birth to Dmitry after prolonged infertility, through fervent prayer and traveling to the surrounding holy places. The boy spent his childhood in the seclusion of rural life; from an early age, he was unconsciously attracted to the monastic life. As he grew older, his religious mood became more noticeable.: it manifested itself in a special disposition to prayer and the reading of spiritual books.
Dmitry studied excellently and remained the first student in his class until he left school. His abilities were very diverse, not only in science, but also in drawing and music. Family ties introduced him to the house of the president of the Academy of Arts, A.N. Olenin; here, at literary evenings, he became a favorite reader and soon became acquainted with A. Pushkin, K. Batyushkov, N. Gnedich, I. Krylov. But in the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life, Dmitry did not change his spiritual aspirations. In his search for "eternal property for eternal man," he gradually came to a disappointing conclusion: the importance of science is limited by the earthly needs of man and the limits of his life.
As zealously as he was engaged in science, Dmitry begins to study ancient and new philosophy, trying to calm his spiritual longing, but this time he does not find a solution to the most important question about the Truth and meaning of life. The study of the Holy Scriptures was the next step, and it convinced him that, left to the arbitrary interpretation of an individual, Scripture could not be a sufficient criterion of true faith and was seduced by false teachings. And then Dmitry turned to the study of the Orthodox faith according to the writings of the holy fathers, whose holiness, as well as the wonderful and majestic harmony, became for him a guarantee of their fidelity.
Dmitry Bryanchaninov attends divine services at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra and finds true mentors there who understand his spiritual needs. The final revolution in his life was made by his acquaintance with Elder Leonid (later Hieromonk Lev of Optina). Dmitry Bryanchaninov leaves the splendor and wealth of aristocratic life and, causing the deepest perplexity of the "light" and the dissatisfaction of his parents, resigns in 1827. After serving as a novice in several monasteries, he takes monastic vows with the name Ignatius in the secluded Glushitsky Dionysius Monastery.
In January 1832, Hieromonk Ignatius was appointed the builder of the Pelshemsky Lopotov Monastery in the Vologda province, and in 1833 he was elevated to the rank of abbot of this monastery. Soon, Emperor Nicholas I summoned Ignatius to St. Petersburg; on the highest recommendation and by order of the Holy Synod, he was awarded the title of Archimandrite and appointed rector of the Sergius Desert.
After living in the Sergius Desert for 24 years, Archimandrite Ignatius brought it into a flourishing state. On October 27, 1857, he was consecrated bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea. The following year, Vladyka arrived in Stavropol, where he had new great labors ahead of him, but a serious illness, smallpox, prevented them. His Grace decided to seek retirement and in 1861 settled in the Nikolo-Babaevsky monastery. Here, free from official duties, he devoted all his time until the end of his life (+ 1867) to work on spiritual writings.
The name of St. Ignatius Bryanchaninov, Bishop of Stavropol and the Caucasus, shines in the annals of the Church and Russia with the bright light of grace-filled election. A strict follower of the ascetic tradition, an outstanding scientist, ascetic, archpastor, peacemaker, a man of the highest spirituality and culture, he is known throughout the civilized world as the creator of immortal spiritual works, a talented administrator, a zealous guardian of Orthodox traditions and culture, as one of the most authoritative human leaders on the path to eternal life.