Ignatius of Smolensk

Ignaty or Ignatius Smolnyanin (also spelled as Smolyanin; ; ) was a Russian pilgrim from Smolensk. He wrote a description of his journey to the Holy Land.

Life Little is known about his life. Three works are attributed to Ignaty: Journey to Constantinople (1389), the Abbreviated Chronicle , and the Description of Thessaloniki and the Holy Mountain . The evidence suggests that he came from western Russia, specifically Smolensk, and traveled to Constantinople with , the bishop of Smolensk, possibly remaining there until around 1392. It is not known whether he returned to Russia or stayed in the Balkans, as his Abbreviated Chronicle mentions the 1396 earthquake at Mount Athos and the 1404 fire at the Great Lavra. He also left an account of the Holy Edicule in Jerusalem, although it provides limited detail.

Although he has been referred to as a deacon or archdeacon, he was not ordained, or at least, not until his final years, as he referred to himself as a simple monk in his writings.