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→Early life
His father being a [[priest]], Mikhail studied at ecclesiastical schools in Smolensk, then enrolled in the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy|St. Petersburg Academy]], where he studied from 1813 to 1817. <ref> AMG:FAM pp. 73-76. </ref> At this time he met his future spiritual father, [[Philaret (Drozdov) of Moscow|Filaret]], later Metropolitan of Moscow. <ref> AMG:FAM pp. 76-77. </ref> He also developed an interest in the [[Philokalia]];<ref> AMG:FAM pp. 39-47; 78-79. </ref> the writings of Protestant mystics such as Jung-Stilling and Johann Arndt;<ref> AMG:FAM pp. 35-39; 77-79. </ref> Quakerism;<ref> AMG:FAM pp. 29,79. </ref> and the [[Russian Bible Society]].<ref> AMG:FAM pp. 12-21. </ref>
In 1818 Makarii (as he was now called) was [[tonsure]]d as a [[monk]], [[ordination|ordained]] as a priest, and enrolled at the [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves|Lavra of the Caves]] in Kiev. <ref> AMG:FAM pp. 81-86. </ref> In 1821, he transferred to Kostroma Seminary, where he received the rank of archimandrite. <ref> AMG:FAM pp. 86-90. </ref> At this time his confessor, Fr. Liverii, introduced him to the practice of [[hesychasm]]. He also met St. [[Seraphim of Sarov]], who had just emerged from forty years of seclusion. <ref> AMG:FAM ppp.41. </ref>
Fr. Makarii left Kostroma in 1824, apparently out of a desire for the [[cenobitic]] life, coupled with frustration over his administrative role. He eventually settled in the Glinsk Hermitage in Putivl village, near Kursk. <ref> AMG:FAM pp. 40-42; 90-93. </ref> There he conceived of the idea of becoming a missionary to Siberia.<ref> AMG:FAM pp. 43-45; 96. </ref>
