Among the many saints of the Russian Orthodox Church, a special place is occupied by the Monk Theodosius of the Caves, whose icon opens this article. Born shortly after the accession of Christianity in Rus', he became one of the founders of Russian monasticism, showing the way to spiritual heights for many subsequent generations of monks. His memory is celebrated four times a year: May 3, August 14, August 28 and September 2.
Birth and early years of the righteous
The life of St. Theodosius of the Caves tells that he was born in 1008, in the family of a military man from the squad of Grand Duke Vladimir the Holy. The beginning of his life took place in the village of Vasiliev, not far from Kyiv, but then, when his father received a transfer to Kursk, his family went there with him.
From birth, the Lord ordained the boy to monastic deeds, instilling in him a love for church service and wearing chains, which Theodosius constantly wore as a child against the wishes of his mother. Feeling no attraction to the games and amusements of his peers, the future ascetic spent all his days in church and begged his parents to send him to study reading and writing with a local priest.
Young Servant of God
Having achieved amazing success in a short time, the lad amazed those around him not only with the number of sacred books he read, but also with their surprisingly wise interpretation, which betrayed his extraordinary mind and abilities. His religiosity took on even deeper forms after the Lord called his father to His Heavenly Abodes at the age of fourteen, and the young man was left alone under the supervision of his mother - a woman who had a strict and domineering character.
Despite her ardent love for her son, she could not comprehend the deep aspirations of his soul, and she treated such early manifestations of extreme religiosity with distrust. Wishing Theodosius happiness, she put into this concept only a simple worldly meaning, the essence of which was to succeed and well-being in this world. However, for the young man it consisted in serving God.
Two escapes from home
The life of Theodosius of the Caves contains a curious episode from his youth. It tells how one day the Lord brought a group of wanderers to his mother's courtyard, who were on a pilgrimage to holy places. Struck by their stories about the monasteries and the monks working in them, the young man, wanting to see everything with his own eyes, secretly left the house and followed them. However, the fugitive was soon overtaken by his mother, who discovered his absence and set off in pursuit. For his arbitrariness, Theodosius was beaten by her and locked up in a hut for several days.
A sharp turning point in the life of the future ascetic came when, at the age of twenty-four, he finally decided to leave his native home and look for a monastery where they would agree to accept him as a novice. From an early age, Theodosius of Pechersk remembered the words of Jesus Christ, who said that he who loves his father or mother more than Him is not worthy of Him. This gave him the strength to decide to escape again. Having seized the moment when his mother was not at home, the young man, picking up a staff and stocking up on a loaf of bread, went to Kyiv.
Blessing of Anthony of the Caves
The path was not close, and the road was unfamiliar, but the Lord sent him a passing convoy, with the help of which the young wanderer reached the Mother of Russian cities. However, his hopes of meeting a warm welcome in any of her cloisters were in vain. To whomever of the abbots he turned, everywhere he met with a refusal. Some did not like the rags in which Theodosius was dressed, others were embarrassed by his too young age.
But the Lord did not allow despair to settle in the heart of His humble servant and directed his feet to the banks of the Dnieper, to where the great righteous and ascetic, the founder of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, elder Anthony labored in an earthen cave in those years (a photo of his icon can be seen below). Endowed with the gift of clairvoyance, he was able to discern in a poorly dressed young man a true vessel of the Holy Spirit and blessed him for monastic deeds.
The feat of cave hermitage
The life of Theodosius of the Caves, reporting on his taking monastic vows, indicates that this rite was performed on him at the command of St. Anthony in 1032 by the rector of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery Nikon. From that time on, his communion with monastic life began, filled with unceasing prayers and nightly vigils, in the depths of gloomy silent caves, illuminated only by the dim flickering of a lamp.
After four years, near the cave in which Theodosius of the Caves lived, his mother suddenly appeared, who had been looking for him all these years and finally found him, guided by the voice of her heart. However, despite the sincere love of his sons, the young caveman at first refused to go out to her, saying that from now on he, a monk, has no relatives except the Lord God.
Only the exhortations of the Monk Anthony, who convinced him of the appropriateness of such a meeting, forced Theodosius to leave his refuge for a while and go to his mother. Seeing her son, the unfortunate woman in tears persuaded him to change his mind and return home, but he was adamant, and not only did not succumb to a momentary temptation, but after a long conversation managed to persuade his mother herself to renounce the world, to embark on the path of serving God. When, having listened to his words, she closed herself in the convent of St. Nicholas, Theodosius, falling on his knees, thanked the Creator for the mercy He had shown.
At the head of the Kiev Caves Monastery
The harsh life filled with incessant deeds, which Theodosius of the Caves led, earned him the deepest reverence of all the brethren. After a few years spent in cave seclusion, he was ordained a priest (hieromonk), and after some time he became abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, founded by his spiritual mentor and teacher, the Monk Anthony. Under his leadership, life in the monastery was raised to an even greater spiritual height.
Having assumed even greater burdens of monastic deeds, Saint Theodosius of the Caves introduced in the monastery the charter of the cenobitic Studian monastery, founded in the 5th century in Constantinople and distinguished by unusually strict rules. Its main difference was the refusal of the monks from personal property and the complete socialization of property. It was precisely this principle, which determined the entire further direction of the development of monasticism in Russia, that St. Theodosius of the Caves took as a basis.
Regardless of faces and titles
The strictness of the rules established by the new rector equally applied to both the inhabitants of the monastery and its visitors, regardless of ranks and titles. There is, for example, a case when Prince Izyaslav Yaroslavovich of Kiev, having arrived at the monastery at an odd hour, was forced to wait at its gates until the time came for the admission of pilgrims. Proud and arrogant in everyday life, he nevertheless humbled himself and dutifully stood among the other pilgrims.
Vivid evidence of how wisely the abbot knew how to build relationships with people is the very life of Theodosius of the Caves. His analysis shows that, communicating with representatives of the most diverse social strata, he always unmistakably found the right tone, guided by God's commandment of love for one's neighbor, which always met with a response in the hearts of those around him. And there are many examples of this.
Hegumen with the reins in his hands
In this regard, the episode associated with his visit to the Kyiv prince Izyaslav, which has already been mentioned above, comes to mind. Warmly received in the palace, the ruler Theodosius of the Caves, returning on foot to the monastery and fairly tired on the road, asked to be in a cart to a peasant who was traveling in the same direction. He agreed, but, not knowing that before him was the abbot of the famous monastery, accepted and revered by the prince himself, he began to boast that he was a hard worker, earning bread in the sweat of his brow, and his passenger was simply a loafer monk.
In response to this, filled with truly Christian humility, Theodosius volunteered to drive the horse himself, and offered the peasant to rest quietly in the cart all the way. What was the amazement of this commoner, who saw how the oncoming nobles stopped and bowed low to his voluntary driver. Arriving at the monastery and finding out what was the matter, the peasant was terribly frightened, but the monk only with fatherly love blessed his recent detractor and ordered him to feed him dinner, thus making him his sincere admirer.
Prince - usurper of power
It is known that many princes highly valued the spiritual conversation with the Monk Theodosius and never fell into anger for exposing their unrighteous deeds, allowing him to openly express his opinion. For example, after Vsevolod and Svyatoslav Yaroslavovichi expelled their older brother Izyaslav, the legitimate heir to the princely throne, from Kiev, Theodosius openly denounced them as treachery and refused to commemorate them in prayer. Only some time later, due to the petition of the brethren of the monastery, he changed his mind. Svyatoslav, who seized power in Kyiv, repented and made considerable contributions to the church treasury.
Death and subsequent canonization
Foreseeing his imminent death, Saint Theodosius called on all the monastic brethren and, having prayed with them, blessed them for further labors for the salvation of their souls. Having given a few last orders, he peacefully reposed in the Lord on May 3, 1074. His body was buried in a cave, dug out by him once on the banks of the Dnieper, where the deceased righteous man began his service to God, blessed by his spiritual mentor - the Monk Anthony.
Fifteen years later, wishing to transfer the ashes of their rector to the tomb of the Church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos founded by him and opening the grave for this, the brethren found his relics incorrupt. This event, as well as the miracles of Theodosius of the Caves, manifested at the place of his burial, such as the healing of the sick, the gift of abundant childbearing, deliverance from misfortunes, etc., served as the reason for his canonization, which took place in 1108. His first life was compiled shortly before that by a monk of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery - the famous chronicler Nestor.
It should be noted in passing that even today there are many testimonies of miracles through prayers to the saint, lifted up near the places of his former asceticism. In this regard, we can mention many entries made in the books of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. They provide facts of healing even the most hopeless patients and finding family happiness for those who have lost their last hope in this.
Literary works of St. Theodosius of the Caves
About twenty different works are attributed to Theodosius of Pechersk as a literary heritage, but his authorship of only half of them has been scientifically proven. Among the creations, undoubtedly belonging to his pen, included eight instructions of spiritual content, a message to Prince Izyaslav of Kyiv, as well as a prayer composed by Theodosius of the Caves.
The teachings of the monk are a kind of testament to all future generations of Orthodox monks. In them, he calls on those who have embarked on the path of serving God not to succumb to the temptations of the flesh and to evade the demonic thoughts that the enemy of the human race instills in the hearts of the monks. In addition, in many of his addresses, he urges monks to eschew laziness, which is also sent by the demon and is the cause of most vices.
He also points to the true cause of the strife and strife that sometimes arises between them. As their constant culprit, the saint points, again, to the devil - the eternal enemy of goodness and love. Therefore, Theodosius teaches to consider every bad thought in relation to one's neighbor as another admonishment of the enemy. As one of the most effective means in the fight against the evil one, he offers confession and repentance brought with all sincerity and frankness.
The memory of the Monk Theodosius of the Caves
For the nine centuries that have passed since the death of the Monk Theodosius, he has been one of the most revered Russian saints, whose life is among the most widely read religious works. Akathists were composed in his honor and temples were erected. Today, on the territory of the Russian Federation, the most famous is the temple of Theodosius of the Caves, located in the Crimea in the village of Okhotnikovo. In total, there are thirteen of them, some of which are owned by monasteries. In Kyiv itself, a church in the name of this saint was erected on the site where, according to legend, his cave was located.
Rehabilitation center named after Theodosius Pechersky
In addition, the medical and social rehabilitation center of Theodosius Pechersky has been operating in the city of Kursk for many years. It provides comprehensive medical and psychological assistance to the disabled, including children. Located in a picturesque place called the Solyanka tract, the center has gained well-deserved fame due to the high professional level of the medical staff and the quality of patient care.
(~1008–1074)
Biography
May 3 (16), August 14 (27) (Transfer of relics), August 28 (September 10) (Cathedral of the Holy Fathers of the Kiev Caves), September 2 (15)
Path to monasticism
Having risen to virtue, having loved the monastic life from childhood, / you have reached the desire of valiantly, you have settled in a cave / and, decorating your life with fasting and lordship, / in prayers, as if incorporeal, you remained, / in the Russian earth, like a bright luminary, shining, Father Theodosius, // pray to Christ God that our souls be saved.
Today we honor the Russian Star, / which shone from the east and came to the west, / enriching this whole country with miracles and kindness, and all of us / with the deed and grace of the monastic charter, // blessed Theodosius.
John troparion to the Monk Theodosius, tone 8
Orthodox mentor, / piety to the teacher and purity, / universal lamp, / divinely inspired fertilizer of the bishops, / Theodosius the wise, / with your teachings enlightened all of you, spiritual spring, / pray to Christ God that our souls be saved.
In kontakion to the Monk Theodosius, tone 8
You were the heir of the fathers, reverend, / those following the life and teaching, / custom and abstinence, / prayer and standing. / With them, having boldness towards the Lord, / ask for forgiveness of sins and salvation for those crying out to you: // Rejoice, Father Theodosius.
Troparion to the Monk Fathers of the Kiev Caves, Tone 4
The mental sun and the bright moon, / of the original Caves, / with the entire cathedral of the saints today we honor, / thie bo, illuminating the church firmament, / enlighten the needy in the darkness of the passions, / and give help from Christ God with their prayers in all sorrows, / and souls ours are asked for deliverance.
Kontakion to the Monk Fathers of the Kiev Caves, Tone 8
Chosen from all generations, the saints of God, / holy reverend Pecherstia, / on these mountains with virtues shone, / the earth did not hide you, / but Heaven opened up to you and a paradise village. / The same we praise songs to God, who glorified you, / we bring in your memory; but you, as if you have boldness, / intercede with your prayers for your cathedral of those who honor from all troubles, / as our intercessors and intercessors to God.
Troparion to Saints Theodosius and Anthony of the Caves, tone 4
Stars of the mind, / shone on the firmament of the Church, / Russian foundation monks, / songs, people, we honor, / joyful praise to this, / rejoice, blessed fathers, Anthony with Theodosius the God-wise, // praying incessantly for those who follow and honor your memory.
John troparion to the Monks Theodosius and Anthony of the Caves, tone 3
Let us honor the pair of primary Russian luminaries, / Antony, sent by God, and Theodosius, bestowed by God: / thie first, equal to the angels in Russia, shone with life from the mountains of Kiev, / illuminating our fatherland all the ends, / and showing the right path to Heaven to many, / and , the first fathers were a monk, having brought the faces of the saved God, / and now, coming in the highest to the unflickering Divine Light, they pray for our souls.
Kontakion to the Monks Theodosius and Anthony of the Caves, tone 8
The pair of great fathers and the bright rule of the monks, / the smart dawn, which enraged the Russian Church, / who will sing praises according to the heritage? Tii are coming to the Throne of God. / But as if you have boldness to the Holy Trinity, / most blessed Anthony and Theodosius of ever-memorable, / pray for prayers for those who bring you / and love songs to please you.
In kontakion to the Monks Theodosius and Anthony of the Caves, tone 2
Let us praise the firm pillars of piety, / the immovable monastic statutes of law, and the invincible walls of Russia: / Anthony, the beloved of God, and Theodosius, beloved of God: / the labors of one and fasting feats are more pleasant than any all-fruitfulness, / One in the saints is glorified.
Venerable Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves. 17th century icon Chernihiv region. |
Often thinking about the salvation of his soul, he decided to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and began to earnestly pray to God for the fulfillment of his desire. At that time, wanderers arrived in Kursk, who were on their way to Jerusalem. He asked them to take him with them and secretly left his mother's house. However, she found out where her son had gone and brought him back home. The angry mother ordered that Theodosius be subjected to corporal punishment, and then put in chains and put under lock and key. After some time, taking a promise from her son not to run away from home, the mother returned his freedom. The Monk Theodosius began to work for the benefit of the Church of Christ. Divine Liturgy was sometimes not performed due to the lack of prosphora. Saint Theodosius himself began to buy wheat, ground it with his own hands and baked prosphora, which he took to the temple and distributed to the poor. The holy young man dedicated two years to this charitable work. His peers laughed at him, but the Monk Theodosius patiently endured ridicule.
The enemy of the human race stirred up the saint's mother against pious deeds. She began to forbid him to bake prosphora and even punished him. Then Saint Theodosius went to another city not far from Kursk to a presbyter he knew, and there he continued his labors. The mother found her son and brought her home again by force.
For the humility and meekness of the young Theodosius fell in love with the ruler of Kursk. He repeatedly presented him with rich clothes, but Saint Theodosius each time gave them to the poor, while he himself continued to wear a simple dress. For the spiritual struggle with the passions, Saint Theodosius began to wear an iron belt on his body. His body was bleeding under his clothes. But Saint Theodosius endured these sufferings with patience and joy.
The Monk Theodosius lived in his parents' house until he was twenty-three years old. Then he secretly left the house and went to Kyiv to accept monasticism there. At that time in Kyiv, in a cave, the Monk Anthony (+ 1073; Comm. 10 July) was performing a monastic feat. When the youth Theodosius came to Saint Anthony, he, seeing in him a great ascetic, accepted him with joy. In 1032, with the blessing of St. Anthony, the Monk Nikon (11088; Comm. 23 March), a disciple and associate of Abba Anthony, tonsured St. Theodosius into an angelic image with the same name in 1032. Saint Theodosius with zeal began to perform monastic deeds under the guidance of the Monk Anthony. He spent his nights in praise of God, during the day he was busy with needlework. By abstinence and fasting, the holy ascetic humbled the soul, by vigil and labor humbled the body.
St. Theodosius, abbot of the Caves. |
Venerable Theodosius of the Caves. Icon from the Trinity Gate Church. Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. 18th century |
Theodosius was ordained to the rank of hieromonk. He celebrated the Divine Liturgy daily and was an example for the brethren of meekness, reverent service to God, and diligence. Often the Monk Theodosius performed work for other monks. He was the first to come to the temple and the last to leave, praying with great attention. Sometimes in hot weather he came out of the cave and, baring his body to the waist, was engaged in needlework and sang psalms, despite the bites of mosquitoes and gadflies.
In the year 1057, after the hegumen of the monastery, the Monk Barlaam (+ 1065; Comm. 19 November), departed to another monastery, the Monk Anthony, at the request of the brethren, appointed the Monk Theodosius as igumen. Having become abbot, Saint Theodosius remained a model of meekness and humility. He was the first to start every business and tried to be a servant to everyone. Since the time of his abbess, the number of brethren has increased from 12 to 100 people, so that not everyone could fit in the cave cells. With the blessing of St. Anthony, the holy abbot asked Prince Izyaslav for a nearby mountain, and soon a large wooden church was erected there in honor of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos and cells were built. The brethren moved to a new place. This is how the famous Kievo-Pechersky monastery arose, a stronghold of monasticism and Orthodoxy on the Russian land.
For the first time in Rus', the Charter of the Studion Monastery was introduced in the Caves Monastery. The Monk Theodosius specially sent a monk to Constantinople, to the Studite Monastery, in order to rewrite the text of the Charter of the monastery and study the way of life of its monks.
Concerned about the spiritual growth of the flock entrusted to him, the holy igumen went around the cells of the brethren at night and, if he found monks gathered for idle conversations, he would announce his presence by knocking on the door. In the morning he did not rebuke them, but indirectly tried to instruct and arouse repentance in them. If someone did not repent, the monk imposed penance on him. Thus the monk taught the brethren to pray and not to be idle.
Saint Theodosius strictly suppressed the self-will of the monks, everything in the monastery was done with the blessing of the elders. The holy abbot forbade the monks to have extra clothes, went around the cells and ordered to remove everything superfluous that was not prescribed by the charter, educating the brethren to be non-possessive.
The Monk Theodosius was very merciful. If it happened that a monk, weakened in spirit, left the monastery, he prayed to God for him with tears until he returned. For the poor and sick, the monk built near the monastery a house with a church in the name of the First Martyr Archdeacon Stephen. Everything necessary for them was released from the monastery. A tenth of the monastic income was used for this. In addition, the monk every Saturday sent a cartload of bread to the prisoners in the dungeons. Through the prayers of the holy brethren, they never experienced a need for anything. Monastic supplies were often miraculously replenished.
St. Venerable Theodosius of the Caves. Icon of the iconostasis of the cave church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. |
There is such a case from the life of a humble ascetic. Once, returning from Prince Izyaslav, the saint rode in a chariot. The driver, seeing his poor attire, thought that he was a simple monk, and ordered him to sit in his place and drive the chariot. When he found out who the monk who was traveling with him was, he was very afraid of punishment. But Saint Theodosius fed him in the monastery refectory and let him go in peace.
Every year, during Great Lent, the Monk Theodosius moved to a cave (where he was later buried) and there he remained in silence until the Week of Vaii. In the cave, the monk was tempted by scarlet spirits, sometimes they even inflicted wounds on him, for several days they did not allow him to sleep. With the help of the grace of God, the monk defeated the demons, and they began to be afraid even to approach him. The Monk Theodosius secretly from the brethren went to the Jews living in Kyiv and courageously preached among them the Gospel of Christ.
Over time, the number of brethren of the monastery increased so much that it became crowded in the Caves Monastery. Through the prayer of St. Theodosius, the Lord opened the site for the construction of a new church on a hill adjacent to the monastery. The new stone temple was founded in 1073, during the life of St. Theodosius, and the construction of the temple and monastery was completed by the successors of the saint: hegumen Stephen (1074-1078), Nikon (1078-1088) and John (elected hegumen in 1088 or 1089) .
The Monk Theodosius predicted his death to the brethren a few days in advance. He gathered the monks of the monastery and addressed them for the last time with instruction. With tears, Saint Theodosius spoke of diligent attendance at church, of the fear of God, of love and obedience. He blessed Stefan the usher to be abbot. For three days the saint was in great relaxation. May 3, 1074, on Saturday, he died peacefully at sunrise during fervent prayer to God.
The body of the Monk Theodosius was buried in a cave where he used to pray. In 1091, the holy relics were transferred to the Assumption Church and placed in the vestibule on the right side. During the Mongol-Tatar invasion, they were hidden under a bushel at the western doors of the same temple. At the Church Council of 1108, under Metropolitan Nicephorus of Kiev (1104-1121), the Monk Theodosius was canonized as a saint. Since that time, they began to everywhere honor the day of the repose of the saint (May 3) and the day of the transfer of his honorable relics (August 14).
Our Lady of the Caves (Svenskaya) with the coming Theodosius and Anthony. Icon of 1288 |
The first life of the Monk Theodosius was compiled by the Monk Nestor the Chronicler (+ 1114; Comm. 27 October), a disciple of the saint. The icon-painting original says: “Our reverend father Theodosius, hegumen of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, head of the monastic common life in the Russian land, like a gray hair, hair is simple, a beard around Vlasiev’s hem, at the end there were little shawls, small thin for two, monastic robes, purple, dark, underwear, a schema on the shoulders, in the hands of a scroll, and in it is written: “Behold, I promise you, brethren and fathers, as if I depart from you in body, but I will always be with you in spirit.”
Rev. Theodosius left five teachings to the monks of the Caves in full (the first and second - about patience and love, the third - about patience and almsgiving, the fourth - about humility, the fifth - about going to church and about prayer), one to the cellar, four so-called . excerpts from teachings to monks and laity, two teachings to the people “on the executions of God” and “troparion cups”, two epistles to Vel. Prince Izyaslav ["about the peasant faith and about the Latin" and "the slaughter of animals on Sunday (week) and fasting on Wednesday and Friday"] and two prayers (one - "for all Christians", the other - written at the request of the Varangian prince Shimon, so-called permissive prayer).
From the teachings to the monks, we learn the dark sides of the then monastic life, about which neither Nestor the Chronicler nor the Patericon of the Caves, who were engaged exclusively in the glorification of the famous Lavra, speak. Theodosius denounces the monks for their laziness in worship, non-observance of the rules of abstinence, collecting property in a cell, dissatisfaction with common clothing and food, grumbling at the abbot for the fact that he supported the strange and poor with monastic funds.
Two teachings of St. Theodosius are addressed to the whole people: one “on the executions of God” for sins, a remarkable depiction of the remnants of pagan beliefs among the people and the prevailing vices of the time, robberies, self-interest, bribery and drunkenness; the other is directed against drunkenness.
Two letters to the Grand Duke Izyaslav answer contemporary questions: the question of fasting on Wednesday and Friday is decided in accordance with the Studian Rule; in the message about the Varangian or Latin faith, deviations from Orthodoxy and the customs of the Latins are counted, any communication with them in food, drink and marriages is prohibited.
In historical terms, the teachings of St. Theodosius are of great importance for characterizing the mores of that time. The literary works of Theodosius of the Caves became famous not very long ago; the authenticity of some of his teachings is subject to strong doubt; so, for example, the latest scientific research considers two teachings - “on the executions of God” and “on the troparion cups” - not belonging to St. Theodosius.
Troparion, tone 8:
Having risen to virtue, / having loved the monastic life from childhood, / you reached the desire valiantly, you settled in the cave / and, decorating your life with fasting and lordship, / in prayers, as if incorporeal, you remained, / in the Russian land, like a bright star, shining , Father Theodosius, // pray to Christ God that our souls be saved.
(Minea May. Part 1. - M., Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, 2002; Tree. Open Orthodox Encyclopedia).
Read in 15 minutes
The pious parents of Saint Theodosius lived in the city of Vasilyev. When their son was born, on the eighth day he was given a name, on the fortieth day he was christened. Then the parents of the blessed one moved to the city of Kursk.
The boy grew up, went to church every day, avoided children's games, and his clothes were shabby and in patches. Theodosius, at his request, was given to the teacher. The lad studied divine books and achieved great success in this.
Theodosius was thirteen years old when his father died. The lad at this time became even more diligent to work and, together with his slaves, worked in the field. The mother considered such behavior a disgrace, and she often beat her son. Mother wanted Theodosius to dress cleaner and play with his peers.
Hearing about the holy places, Theodosius prayed to God to visit them. Wanderers came to his city on their way to the Holy Land. They promised to take the young man with them. At night, Theodosius secretly left the house and followed the wanderers. But God did not want Theodosius to leave his country.
Three days later, Theodosia's mother learned that her son had left with the pilgrims. She went in pursuit. Having caught up with her son, the mother beat him, tied him up, showered reproaches on the wanderers, and took the young man home. Two days later, she untied Theodosius, but ordered him to wear chains. When the son promised his mother that he would not run away again, she allowed the shackles to be removed.
Theodosius again began to go to church daily. Often there was no liturgy in the church, because no one baked prosphora. Then the young man himself took up the matter. Peers laughed at him, and his mother persuaded him to stop baking prosphora. Theodosius answered her so intelligently about the importance of this matter that his mother left him alone for a whole year. And then she again began to convince her son, now with affection, now with beatings. In desperation, the young man went to another city and settled with a priest. His mother found him again and brought him home with beatings.
The ruler of the city fell in love with Theodosius and gave him light clothes. But Theodosius gave it to the poor, and he himself dressed in rags. The ruler gave other clothes, and the young man gave them back, and this was repeated several times.
Theodosius began to wear chains - he girded himself with an iron chain. When he was dressing for the holiday, so that among other young men he would serve the nobles at the feast, his mother noticed this chain. She tore off the chains with anger and beatings. And the lad humbly went to serve at the feast.
The young man began to think about how to take the veil as a monk and hide from his mother. When Theodosia's mother left for the village, he went to Kyiv. Merchants followed the same road, and Theodosius secretly followed them. Three weeks later, the young man arrived in Kyiv. He went around all the monasteries, but nowhere did they receive him, seeing poor clothes.
Then Theodosius heard about the blessed Anthony living in a cave, and hurried to him. Anthony, testing Theodosius, expressed doubt that the young man could endure all the hardships. Although Anthony himself foresight saw that it was Theodosius who would build a glorious monastery here in the future. Theodosius promised to obey Anthony in everything. He allowed the young man to stay. Priest Nikon, who also lived in this cave, tonsured Theodosius and clothed him in monastic clothes.
Having dedicated himself to God, Theodosius spent his days in labor and his nights in prayer. Anthony and Nikon marveled at his humility and fortitude. Meanwhile, his mother was looking for Theodosius both in her city and in neighboring ones. She announced that anyone who brings her information about Theodosius will receive a reward. People who saw Theodosius in Kyiv told their mother how the young man was looking for a monastery. The woman went to Kyiv and went around all the monasteries. She came to Anthony's cave. When Elder Anthony came out to the woman, she had a lengthy conversation with him, and at the end she mentioned her son. Antony told her to come the next day to see her son. But Theodosius, despite Antony's persuasion, did not want to see his mother. The woman came and began to shout in anger at Antony: “You have kidnapped my son ...” Then finally Theodosius went out to his mother. She hugged her son, cried and began to persuade him to return home, for she could not live without him. And Theodosius urged his mother to take a haircut in a convent: then he would see her every day.
At first, the mother did not want to hear about it, but in the end she succumbed to her son's persuasion. She took the vows in the convent of St. Nicholas, lived for many years in repentance and died. She herself told one of the monks about the life of Theodosius from childhood until the time when he came to the cave.
At first there were three monks in the cave: Anthony, Nikon and Theodosius. A noble youth often came to them, the son of the first of the princely boyars, John. The young man wanted to become a monk and also settle in a cave. Once he put on rich clothes, mounted a horse and rode to Elder Anthony. In front of the cave, he folded his clothes, put his horse in rich decoration and renounced wealth. The young man begged to be tonsured by Anthony. The elder warned the young man about his father's anger. But nevertheless he tonsured him and named him Varlaam.
Then, with the same request, the eunuch, the favorite princely servant, came to the cave. He was tonsured and named Ephraim. And Prince Izyaslav was angry that the eunuch and the young man were tonsured monks without his permission. The prince ordered Nikon to convince the new monks to go home, threatening otherwise to fill up the cave and imprison the monks.
Then the Chernorizians gathered to leave for another land. And Izyaslav's wife began to tell her husband that the departure of the monks threatened the land with disaster. And the prince forgave the monks, allowing them to return to the cave.
But the boyar John, the father of the boy who had taken the veil, blazing with anger, burst into the cave, tore off his son's monastic clothes, and dressed him in a boyar dress. And since the young man Varlaam resisted, his father ordered him to tie his hands and lead him through the city. The son, on the way, tore off his rich clothes.
At home, Varlaam did not want to eat food. His wife tried to seduce him, but he only prayed and sat motionless in his place for three days. Then the father took pity on his son and allowed him to return to the monastic life.
From that time on, many came to the holy fathers Anthony and Theodosius, many became monks. And Nikon left the cave and settled on the island of Tmutorokansky. Ephraim the eunuch began to live in one of the monasteries of Constantinople, and another monk, a former boyar, lived on the island, which was later named Boyarov.
Theodosius became a priest. At that time there were already fifteen brethren, and Varlaam was the abbot. Anthony, loving solitude, dug a cave on another hill and lived in it without going anywhere. When Varlaam was transferred as abbot to the monastery of St. Dmitry, Theodosius became the new hegumen. The number of brethren increased, they did not have enough space in the cave. Then Theodosius, not far from the cave, built a church in the name of the Mother of God, many cells, and surrounded this place with a wall.
Theodosius sent one monk to Constantinople, to Ephraim the eunuch. He rewrote for him the charter of the Studian monastery, and Theodosius arranged everything in his monastery according to this model.
During Lent, Theodosius shut himself up in his cave. Here demons harmed him many times, but the saint drove them away with prayer. Even evil spirits were fouling in the house where the brethren baked bread. Theodosius went to the bakery and spent the whole night in prayer. After that, the demons did not dare to appear there. In the evenings, Theodosius went around all the monastic cells: is anyone busy with empty conversation? And in the morning he instructed the guilty.
Princes and boyars often came to the monastery and confessed to the saint. They brought rich gifts. But Prince Izyaslav especially loved Saint Theodosius. Once the prince arrived at the monastery at noon, when it was ordered not to let anyone in. The gatekeeper did not let the prince in, but went to report to the abbot. Izyaslav was waiting at the gate. Then the abbot himself came out and received him.
Barlaam went to Jerusalem. On the way back, he fell ill and died. His body was buried in the monastery of Theodosius. And the abbot of the monastery of St. Dmitry became another monk from the monastery of Theodosius - Isaiah. Nikon returned to the monastery to Theodosius. The abbot revered him as a father.
Theodosius did not disdain any work: he himself helped to knead the dough, bake bread. He carried water and chopped wood. He came to work and church earlier than others and left later than others. He slept sitting up and wore a poor sackcloth.
Once Theodosius came to Prince Izyaslav and stayed late. The prince ordered that Theodosius be taken back in a cart so that he could sleep on the way. The driver, looking at the clothes of Theodosius, thought that this was a poor monk. He asked Theodosius to get on the horse, and he himself lay down in the cart and fell asleep. At dawn the abbot woke him up. The driver, waking up, saw with horror that everyone was bowing before Theodosius. Arriving at the monastery, the abbot ordered to feed the driver. The driver himself told the brethren about this incident.
Theodosius taught all the monks humility and the fight against evil spirits. One of the monks, Hilarion, was haunted by demons every night. He wanted to move to another cell, but Saint Theodosius would not allow it. When Hilarion was exhausted, Theodosius rebaptized him and promised that the demons would not appear again. And so it happened.
One evening, the housekeeper came to Theodosius and said that there was nothing to buy food for the brethren. But Theodosius advised him not to worry about tomorrow. After a while, the housekeeper came in again and started talking about the same thing, and the abbot answered in the same way. When the steward went out, a certain youth appeared before Saint Theodosius and gave him some gold. Then the abbot called the steward, ordered him to buy everything he needed. And the goalkeeper later said that no one entered the monastery at all that night.
At night, Theodosius prayed, but in front of others he pretended to be asleep. In the monastery there was a monk Damian, who imitated Theodosius in everything and became famous for his holy life. On his deathbed, he prayed that God would not separate him from Theodosius even in the next world. Then an angel appeared to him in the form of hegumen Theodosius and said that Damian's request had been heard.
The number of brethren increased, and Saint Theodosius expanded the monastery. When the fence was broken during construction, robbers came to the monastery. They wanted to rob the church. It was a dark night. The robbers approached the temple and heard singing. They thought that the service had not yet ended, but in fact the angels were singing in the church. During the night, the robbers approached the church several times, but each time they saw a light and heard singing. Then the villains decided to attack the brethren during morning prayers, kill all the monks and seize church wealth.
But when they ran up, the temple went up into the air with all those who were in it, who did not even feel anything. The robbers, seeing the miracle, were horrified and returned home. Then the chieftain with three robbers came to Theodosius to repent.
One of the boyars of Prince Izyaslav saw the same miracle: the ascended church, which before his eyes sank to the ground.
Another boyar, preparing for battle, promised that in case of victory he would donate gold and a salary for the icon of the Virgin to the monastery. Then he forgot about this promise, but the voice that came from the icon of the Mother of God reminded him. He also brought the Holy Gospel as a gift to the monastery, and the perspicacious Theodosius found out about this before the boyar showed the Gospel.
Prince Izyaslav, having dinner in the monastery, was surprised: why is the monastic food so much tastier than the expensive dishes at the prince's table? Theodosius explained that in the monastery the meal is prepared with prayer, with a blessing, and the prince's servants do everything, "quarreling and laughing."
If the abbot found something in the monastery cells that was not prescribed by the charter, then he threw it into the oven. Others, unable to withstand the severity of the charter, left the monastery. Theodosius mourned and prayed for them until they returned. One monk, who often left the monastery, came and placed in front of Theodosius the money that he had acquired by his labor in the world. The abbot ordered everything to be thrown into the fire. The monk did just that and spent the rest of his days in the monastery.
When the robbers were caught plundering one of the monastery villages, Theodosius ordered to untie and feed them, and then, having instructed them, he released them in peace. Since then, these villains no longer rampaged.
Theodosius gave a tenth of the monastery property to the poor. Once a priest from the city came to the monastery and asked for wine for the liturgy. The saint ordered the sexton to give the priest all the wine, leaving nothing for himself. He did not immediately obey, reluctantly, but that same evening three wagons came to the monastery, in which there were taverns with wine.
Once the abbot ordered white bread brought by someone to the table. Cellar put them aside for another day. Upon learning of this, Theodosius ordered the bread rolls to be thrown into the water, and a penance was imposed on the cellarer. This is what he did when something was done without a blessing. Already after the death of Theodosius, under Abbot Nikon, the following happened. Kelar lied that he did not have flour for making special white bread with honey. In fact, he saved the flour for later. And when he was about to bake bread from it, then, filling the dough with water, he found a toad that defiled the water. I had to throw out the dough.
For the feast of the Assumption, the monastery did not have enough wooden oil for the lamps. The housekeeper suggested using linseed oil. But there was a dead mouse in the vessel, and the oil was poured out. Theodosius placed his hope in God, and on the same day a certain man brought a pot of wooden oil to the monastery.
When Prince Izyaslav arrived at the monastery, the hegumen ordered to cook dinner for the prince. Kelarus said that there was no honey. Theodosius ordered to look at him again. Cellar obeyed and found the vessel full of honey.
Once Theodosius cast out demons from a barn in a neighboring village, as before from a bakery. And then another miracle happened with flour. The senior baker said that there was no flour left, but through the prayers of St. Theodosius, he found the barrel full.
One man was shown in a vision the place where the brethren of the monastery subsequently moved. The fiery arc rested with one end in that place, and with the other - in the existing monastery. Others saw a religious procession at night, going to the site of the future monastery. In fact, not people, but angels were walking in the procession.
Theodosius often argued about Christ with the Jews, wanting to convert them to Orthodoxy. The abbot's prayer protected the monastic possessions from any harm.
At that time, two princes went to war against Izyaslav and expelled him. Svyatoslav became prince of Kyiv. Arriving in the city, he invited Theodosius to a feast, but he refused, and instead began to denounce the prince for his unrighteous act with his brother, Izyaslav. Theodosius wrote an accusatory letter to Svyatoslav. He was furious when he read it. Many feared that the prince would imprison Theodosius, and begged the saint to stop the denunciations, but he did not agree. However, the prince, although he was angry, did not dare to harm the hegumen Theodosius. And he, seeing that he achieved nothing by denunciation, left Svyatoslav alone. Upon learning that Theodosius' anger had subsided, the prince came to visit him at the monastery. The saint taught the prince about brotherly love. And he put all the blame on his brother and did not want to put up. But he listened to Theodosius with attention. The abbot also began to visit the prince. Svyatoslav, out of respect for the saint, stopped secular music when Theodosius appeared. The prince always rejoiced at the arrival of the abbot, but did not want to return the throne to his brother. And in the monastery, the brethren prayed for Izyaslav as for the prince of Kyiv.
Theodosius decided to move to a new place and create a large stone church in the name of the Virgin. Prince Svyatoslav himself was the first to start digging the ground for construction. Saint Theodosius did not complete this work during his lifetime, the church was completed under Abbot Stephen.
Many mocked Theodosius' shabby clothes. Many, seeing him, mistook him not for the abbot, but for the cook. Theodosius himself sometimes humbly hid his name from those who came and at the same time helped everyone: once he helped a woman offended by a judge.
Saint Theodosius knew in advance the day of his death. He called the monks, instructed them, and then dismissed and began to pray. After three days of serious illness, he again gathered the brethren and ordered them to elect a new hegumen. The monks were sad. They elected the ecclesiastical regent Stephen as igumen, Theodosius blessed him and appointed him igumen. He called the day of his death - Saturday.
When Saturday came, the Monk Theodosius said goodbye to the weeping brethren. He ordered that no one, except the monks themselves, should bury him. Then the saint let everyone go and died with a prayer on his lips.
At this time, Prince Svyatoslav saw a pillar of fire above the monastery and guessed that Theodosius had died. But no one else saw it. However, many people came to the monastery, as if they somehow miraculously learned about the death of the saint. The brethren behind the pearl gate and waited for the people to disperse. It began to rain, people fled, and immediately the sun shone. The monks buried the body of Theodosius in a cave.
retold
The Monk Theodosius of the Caves, the founder of the cenobitic monastic rule and the founder of monasticism in the Russian land, was born in Vasilevo, not far from Kyiv. From a young age, he showed an irresistible attraction to the ascetic life, leading an ascetic life in his parental home. He did not like children's games and hobbies, he constantly went to church. He himself begged his parents to give him for teaching the reading of sacred books, and, with excellent abilities and rare diligence, he quickly learned to read books, so that everyone was surprised at the mind of the boy. In the 14th year, he lost his father and remained under the supervision of his mother - a strict and domineering woman, but who loved her son very much. For striving for asceticism, she punished him many times, but the Reverend firmly took the path of achievement. In the 24th year, he secretly left his parental home and took the vows, with the blessing of the Monk Anthony, in the Kiev-Pechersk monastery with the name Theodosius. Four years later, his mother found him and with tears asked to return home, but the saint himself persuaded her to stay in Kyiv and accept monasticism at the monastery of St. Nicholas at Askold's grave.
The Monk Theodosius labored in the monastery more than others, and often took upon himself part of the work of the brethren: he carried water, chopped wood, ground rye, and brought flour to each monk. On hot nights he exposed his body and gave it to mosquitoes and midges as food, blood flowed through him, but the saint patiently did needlework and sang psalms. He appeared in the temple before the others, and standing in place, did not leave it until the end of the service; I listened to the reading with great attention. In 1054 the Monk Theodosius was ordained to the rank of hieromonk, and in 1057 he was elected abbot. The fame of his exploits attracted many monks to the monastery, in which he built a new church and cells and introduced the Studium cenobitic charter, written off, on his behalf, in Constantinople. In the rank of abbot, the Monk Theodosius continued to perform the most difficult obediences in the monastery. The saint usually ate only dry bread and boiled herbs without oil. Nights passed with him without sleep in prayer, which the brethren noticed many times, although the chosen one of God tried to hide his feat from others. No one saw that the Monk Theodosius slept lying down, he usually rested while sitting. During Great Lent, the saint retired to a cave located not far from the monastery, where he labored, unseen by anyone. His clothes were a stiff sackcloth, worn directly on the body, so that in this poor old man it was impossible to recognize the famous abbot, who was revered by all who knew him. Once the Monk Theodosius was returning from Grand Duke Izyaslav. The driver, who did not yet know him, said rudely: "You, monk, are always idle, and I am constantly at work. Go to my place, and let me into the chariot." The holy elder meekly obeyed and took the servant away. Seeing how the boyars who met him were bowing to the monk, getting off their horses, the servant was frightened, but the holy ascetic calmed him and, upon arrival, fed him in the monastery. Hoping for God's help, the monk did not keep large supplies for the monastery, so the brethren sometimes endured the need for daily bread. Through his prayers, however, unknown benefactors appeared and delivered to the monastery what was necessary for the brethren. The Grand Dukes, especially Izyaslav, loved to enjoy the spiritual conversation of St. Theodosius. The saint was not afraid to denounce the mighty of this world. The unlawfully convicted always found in him an intercessor, and the judges reviewed cases at the request of the abbot, revered by all. The monk was especially concerned about the poor: he built a special courtyard for them in the monastery, where anyone in need could receive food and shelter. Foreseeing his own death in advance, the Monk Theodosius peacefully departed to the Lord in 1074. He was buried in a cave dug out by him, in which he retired during fasting. The relics of the ascetic were found incorrupt in 1091. Saint Theodosius was canonized as a saint in 1108. From the works of the Monk Theodosius, 6 teachings, 2 epistles to the Grand Duke Izyaslav and a prayer for all Christians have come down to us. The life of St. Theodosius was compiled by the Monk Nestor the Chronicler, a disciple of the great abba, a little over 30 years after his repose, and has always been one of the favorite readings of the Russian people.