Princely Origins
By his sources' account, Andrew belonged to the Zaozersk princely line: his father was Prince Demetrius (Dimitri) Vasilievich of Lesser Zaozersk, a descendant of Prince Theodore Rostislavich of Smolensk and Yaroslavl, and his mother was Princess Maria. The accounts emphasize the deep piety of his parents, which they passed to their son.
One account relates that his father was killed in 1429 by Kazan Tatars during a raid and that his mother died of illness while Andrew was young, leaving him orphaned together with his brothers Symeon and Theodore and his sister Sophia.
Monastic Life and Asceticism
At twenty years of age, Andrew received tonsure at the Kamenny Monastery of the Savior at Kubensk, situated on Lake Kubenskoye in the Vologda lands, taking the name Joasaph. He progressed under the spiritual direction of an Elder Gregory and was distinguished by obedience, keeping the fasts, meekness, humility, and zeal in prayer.
He lived the life of a hermit in his cell for about five years and attained a high spiritual level. During the final year of his life his discipline intensified: he partook of food only once during the week while receiving the Holy Mysteries each Sunday. After counseling the assembled brethren and requesting the prayers for the departing, he lay down upon his bed and died with prayer on his lips on September 10, 1453.
Veneration
By tradition recorded in his life, while Joasaph sang the Psalms in his cell Christ appeared to him with the greeting 'Peace be unto you,' promising to fill the surrounding wilderness with monastics glorifying God. He was buried at the monastery, in the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, where, his life relates, miracles soon began at his grave and many who suffered from fever received healing. He is commemorated on September 10.
