The article compares two works of the 17th century: the poetic prayer of Prince S. I. Shakhovsky, dedicated to St. Demetrius of Vologda, and the prayer to the locally venerated Vologda ascetic Procopius Ustyansky, which was not recognized by the official church. These texts are almost identical. The author proves that the first was a poem by Shakhovsky, and it became the basis for creating a prayer to Procopius Ustyansky.