He was born in Kolomna as Vasily Drozdov (Russian: Василий Михайлович Дроздов). He was educated at the seminaries of Kolomna and Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra, and on the completion of his studies was at once appointed professor in the latter. He became preacher of the lavra in 1806, and four years later was appointed professor of theology in the ecclesiastical academy of Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg, becoming archimandrite in 1811 and director in 1812.