He joined state service as a junior clerk in 1823 in his home town of Ardatov, relocated to Saint Petersburg in 1826, retired in 1827 and lived by drawing advertising boards and later illustrations for Svinyin publishing house.
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Gornostaev's life changed when he received an invitation from Damaskin (1795–1881, born Demyan Kononov), Hegumen of Valaam Monastery to rebuilt the monastery and its numerous hermitages.
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