Saint Savvaty of Solovetsky came to the Cyril-Beloezersky Monastery in 1396, where he took monastic vows. There he labored for a long time, unquestioningly fulfilling all obediences. Humility, meek love for the brethren, and a strict life distinguished St. Savvati from other ascetics. Soon he began to be burdened by the attention and respect of the brethren and the laity who came, and when he learned that there was a rocky island of Valaam on Lake Ladoga, he decided to move there. Grieving deeply, the brethren of the Cyril-Beloezersky monastery said goodbye to the holy elder. In Valaam, worldly glory also began to bother the humble elder. Meanwhile, the monk learned that there was an uninhabited Solovetsky Island in the north; he began to ask the abbot for his blessing to settle there in solitude. 
However, the abbot and the brethren did not want to part with the holy elder. At the direction of God, the Monk Savvati left the Valaam monastery at night and headed for the shores of the White Sea. When he learned from the locals that the island was two days away, that there were many lakes and that no one lived on the island, he became even more eager to settle there. Surprised residents asked the gray-haired ascetic how he would live there and what to eat. "I have such a Master," the monk replied, "Who gives strength to the decrepitude of fresh youth, and feeds the hungry to their full."
For some time, the Monk Savvati remained in the chapel, which stood near the mouth of the Vyga River, in the village of Soroki. There he met with the Monk Herman, who was ascetic, and together they decided to move to the island. After praying to God in a small boat, the elders set off across the harsh sea and reached Solovetsky Island three days later. The ascetics settled near Sekirnaya Gora, where they erected a cross and erected a cell. In the harsh conditions of the North, the elders labored for several years and consecrated the deserted island with their exploits. And here, sometimes, the enemy of humanity, the devil, tempted the holy elders. A certain fisherman and his wife, driven by a feeling of envy, arrived on the island one day and settled near the ascetics. But the Lord did not allow the laity to establish themselves next to the elders. Two young men with bright faces appeared to the fisherman's wife and whipped her with rods. The fisherman got scared, quickly packed up his things and hurried back to his former place of residence. One day, when the Monk Herman went to the Onega River for his cell needs, the Monk Savvaty, left alone, felt the approach of death and prayed to God that He would deign him to partake of the Holy Mysteries. In two days, the monk sailed to the mainland and, ten versts from the Vyga River, he met Abbot Nathanael, who was on his way to a distant village to receive communion from a sick peasant. Abbot Nathanael was glad to meet the monk, fulfilled his wish and listened to the story of his exploits on the island. After saying goodbye, they agreed to meet at the temple on the Vyga River.
Arriving at the temple, the holy elder prayerfully thanked God for Communion; he shut himself up in a cell located at the temple and began to prepare for departure to the eternal villages. At that time, the Novgorod merchant John landed on the shore and, after bowing to the holy icons in the temple, came to the holy elder. After receiving the blessing and guidance, he offered the monk a portion of his wealth and was saddened when he heard the refusal. Wishing to comfort the merchant, the Monk Savvaty invited him to stay until morning and promised him well-being on the way. But John was in a hurry to set sail. Suddenly, an earthquake started and a storm rose on the sea. Frightened, the merchant stayed, and in the morning, entering the cell for a blessing, he saw that the elder had already passed away. Together with Abbot Nathanael, who came up, they buried Saint Savvati in the chapel and compiled a description of his life. This happened on September 27, 1435. 30 years later, the holy relics of St. Savvati were transferred by St. Zosima (+ 1478; April 17) and the brethren to Solovetsky Island and laid in the Transfiguration Church. In 1566, the relics of Saints Savvati and Zosima were transferred to the church named in their honor (joint commemoration on August 8).