Hieromonk Gerontius was born in prison. He was brought up in an orphanage, and then became a criminal, like his parents. His talent as an architect was unexpectedly revealed during imprisonment, where he himself, without anyone's help and without having any education, built a wooden church according to ancient models. Being released from the jail, he built three wooden monasteries and ten temples. His working team consists of former prisoners, tramps, beggars, hobos. Thanks to Gerontius, many of them radically changed their lifestyle, got a profession and stayed in these monasteries for the rest of their lives.