According to Valentin Yanin, Michael was the son or grandson of Dmitry Mikhailovich Volyn-Bobrok ("Little Beaver"), the hero of the Battle of Kulikovo, and Anna Ivanovna, daughter of Grand Prince Ivan II Ivanovich the Fair, sister of Dmitry Donskoy. A hagiography of the saint, was written in 1478-9, redacted in the 90's, and again in 1537. Although folklorish, it provides the earliest literary evidence for Michael's activities in the monastery.