The Monk Irinarch, a recluse of Rostov, was born into a peasant family in the village of Kondakovo, Rostov district. He was baptized as Elijah. At the age of 30, the saint took monastic vows at the Rostov Borisoglebsky Monastery. There he began to work hard in monastic labors, attended church services, prayed at night and slept on the ground. One day, taking pity on a pilgrim who had no shoes, Saint Irenarchus gave him his boots and from then on began to walk barefoot in the cold. The abbot did not like this behavior of the ascetic, and he began to humble him, forcing him to stand in the cold for two hours in front of his cell or ring the bell for a long time. The saint endured everything with patience and did not change his behavior. 
The abbot continued to be hard-hearted, and the monk was forced to transfer to the Avramiev Monastery of the Epiphany, where he was accepted into the brotherhood and was soon appointed a cellarer. The monk fulfilled his obedience with zeal, grieving that the brethren of the monastery and the servants did not take care of the property of the monastery, wasting it without measure. One day, in a dream, he saw St. Abraham of Rostov (October 29), who comforted him and blessed him to distribute everything he needed without embarrassment. Once, during the singing of the Cherubim Church, the Monk Irinarch sobbed loudly. To the Archimandrite's question, he replied: "My mother has passed away!" 
After leaving the Abrahamiev Monastery, the Monk Irinarch moved to the Rostov Monastery of St. Lazarus, settled in a secluded cell and lived in it for three years in cramped conditions and hunger. Here he was visited by Blessed John the Fool, nicknamed the Big Hood. The saints reinforced each other with spiritual conversation. The elder, however, had a desire to return to his original monastery, the Borisoglebsky Monastery. He was received back with love by the builder Varlaam and began to struggle even more severely in the monastery. 
Having retreated into seclusion, the ascetic chained himself to a wooden chair with an iron chain, put heavy chains and crosses on himself. For this, he suffered bitterness and ridicule from the monastery brethren. At that time, he was visited by an old friend, Blessed John the Fool, who predicted Lithuania's invasion of Moscow. The Monk Irinarch spent 25 years chained and chained in hard labor. His exploits exposed those who lived negligently in the monastery, and they lied to the abbot that the elder taught not to go to monastic work, but to strive like him. The abbot believed the slander and expelled the holy elder from the monastery. Having humbly submitted, the Monk Irinarch went back to Rostov and lived in the monastery of St. Lazarus for one year. 
Meanwhile, the abbot of Borisoglebsky repented of his deed and sent monks for the Monk Irinarch. He returned, reproaching himself that he did not live like the brethren, who carried on righteous labors, which he was deprived of. The monk continued to wear his heavy chains and, working, made clothes for the poor, knitted hair rolls and hoods. He only slept for an hour or two at night, the rest of the time he prayed and beat his body with an iron stick.
Saint Irinarch had a vision that Lithuania would capture Moscow, and the churches in their places would be devastated. He began to weep bitterly about the impending disaster, and the abbot ordered him to go to Moscow and warn Tsar Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky (1606-1610) of the impending disaster. The Monk Irinarch fulfilled his obedience. He refused the gifts offered to him and, returning, began to pray fervently that the Lord would have mercy on the Russian land.
The enemies came to Russia, began to conquer cities, beat up residents, robbed monasteries and churches. The false Dimitri and the second impostor sought to subjugate Russia to the Polish king. Borisoglebsky monastery was also captured by enemies, who entered the holy hermit and were surprised by the direct and bold speeches of the elder, who predicted their death.
Sapieha, who was staying at the Borisoglebsky monastery, wished to see the elder sitting in chains, and was surprised by such a feat. When the gentlemen who came with Sapega told him that the elder was praying for Shuisky, the monk boldly said: "I was born and baptized in Russia, I pray for the Russian tsar and God." Sapega replied: "The truth about the father is great – in which land to live, that land to serve." After that, the Monk Irinarch began to convince Sapieha to leave Russia, predicting his death otherwise.
The Monk Irinarch followed the course of the war and sent his blessing and prosphora to Prince Dimitri Pozharsky. He ordered him to go to Moscow, predicting: "You will see the glory of God." To help Pozharsky and Minin, the monk handed over his cross. Russian Russians defeated Lithuania with God's help, Prince Pozharsky captured the Kremlin, and peace gradually began to be established in the Russian land. Elder Irinarch continued to incessantly pray to God with tears for the deliverance of Russia from its enemies and, having the power to work miracles, healed the sick and possessed. 
The day of his death was revealed to him, and he called his disciples, Alexander and Cornelius, began to give them instructions and, saying goodbye to everyone, quietly departed to the Lord in eternal rest (+ January 13, 1616). The holy elder left behind 142 copper crosses, seven shoulder chains, a 20-fathom chain that he wore around his neck, iron leg restraints, eighteen hand shackles, "binders" that he wore on his belt, weighing a pound, and an iron stick with which he beat his body and drove away demons. In these works, as the elder called them, he lived for 38 years, lived in the world for 30 years, and died at the age of 68. After the death of St. Irinarch, many miracles were performed at his tomb, especially healings of the sick and possessed when crosses and chains of the holy ascetic were placed on them.