Theodosius of the Caves became the second saint to be canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, and the first to be awarded the title of "reverend" during his lifetime, that is, righteous, pleasing to God.

Venerable Theodosius of the Caves. 19th century icon

Theodosius was born between 1035-1038. in the Kyiv lands (in the city-fortress Vasiliev, founded by Vladimir I, - now the city of Vasilkov near Kyiv) in a family of wealthy landowners. He learned to read early. After the death of his father, Theodosius was 13 years old, everything was run in the house by his mother - a domineering and intolerant woman ("... and strong and strong in body, like a husband"): what she says, she will not back down.

Theodosius grew up as a calm boy, he did not play games and entertainment with his peers, he spent more time reading books. He was not attracted to a table with plentiful food, nor expensive beautiful clothes. Already in adolescence, he was distinguished by piety and humility.

Reading Christian literature, Theodosius from his youth chose the ideal of a hermit for himself. Having begun to embody the chosen path, he refused to wear a rich dress, dressed in rags (“His clothes are thin and splatana”), wished to work like a serf (“he went out with slaves to the village and worked with all humility”), Theodosius met with stiff opposition from the side mother. She repeatedly tried the traditional method of persuasion in Russia - a rod below the waist. Didn't help. The lad, having chosen the moment, ran away from home, joining the people wandering around the world.

The first trip was short. The mother soon overtook the fugitive. “Having caught up with him, in a strong anger, she began to inflict severe beatings on him, throwing him to the ground and trampling him underfoot,” and then put him in chains so that he would not even think of leaving the house anymore. Soon the son, as if coming to his senses, promised his mother not to run away again. Freed from the shackles, Theodosius began to attend church, and in his free time he was engaged in a "wretched profession" - baking prosphora - round breads made from wheat flour - as a gift to the church. The mother was offended by such an occupation of her son, and again scolding and beatings fell on the soul and body of the child.

Mother did not cease to insist on the return of her son to ordinary worldly life. She was one of those mothers who “wept for her sons as if they were dead,” when Prince Vladimir I ordered them to be apprenticed. Here, the struggle of two generations was clearly visible: the old, pagan, represented by the mother, and the new, Christian, enlightened by book teaching, represented by the son.

Theodosius silently persisted. At the age of 14, having violated this word to live humbly, he again ran away from home and went to the Holy places. He did not reach Jerusalem, he was caught, beaten and returned home by his mother.

Secretly from his mother, Theodosius began to wear chains, but she noticed this and tore off his chains. So much so that, due to the injuries he received, he could no longer wear them.

Theodosius was on the run again. And soon he found a worthy refuge - with hermits led by Anthony, in small earthen caves on the banks of the Dnieper in the vicinity of Kyiv. Such unsightly dwellings were built by the hermits themselves. There were few requirements for their inhabitants: to live off their labor and be able to endure the hardships of a hermit's life.

The place of the initial feat of the Pechersk monks

Theodosius lived according to the charter - on bread and water, tried in every possible way to serve the brethren there: he chopped wood, carried water, even knitted woolen socks and hats - and so on from day to day. But the hardest part began with the onset of night. Theodosius came out of the cave, exposing his body to mosquitoes and gadflies. Clouds of insects swooped down on the sufferer, but Theodosius courageously endured and, in order to resist the temptation to drive them away with his hands, spun a wave (wool), singing psalms. His whole body was covered with blood, but he did not go into the cave until the morning. Why did Theodosius have to torture himself like that, the modern reader will ask?

Historian's opinion.P.N. Milyukov: “We must not forget, first of all, that today's ascetic was yesterday's member of the same society, although, perhaps, his best representative ... In most cases, he was, like Abbot Theodosius himself, a strong and strong physical nature, accustomed to endure all the inconveniences of the then uncultured life. Physical feats were the most familiar for such a nature. Chopping wood, carrying it to the monastery, fetching water, carpentry, grinding flour, or working in the kitchen for the brethren meant continuing within the walls of the monastery the same occupations to which she was accustomed in the world. Real feats began when it came to deprivation of food and sleep. The struggle with these needs of nature - fasting and vigil - was therefore considered a particularly high feat of the spirit.

The day came when the abbot of the monastery Anthony ordered Theodosius to be tonsured a monk. Having earned the respect of the brethren, from 1062 until his death, he was abbot of the monastery. He erects many monastic buildings, in which the Chernorytsy were resettled. Since that time, the monastery began to be called Pechersk for its inhabitants formerly lived in caves. A wooden church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was also erected here (later the church was built of stone).

Cell of St. Theodosius of the Caves in the Far Caves

Theodosius established, according to the monastic charter introduced by him according to the Greek model, a strict order. The brethren began to “neither gasp nor sigh” without his knowledge: the monks were strictly settled in cells; day and night checked their presence on the ground; he forbade conversations after prayer, he even imposed penance on violators; he introduced the same clothes, did not allow him to have his own things (he burned in the oven “like an enemy part”); he himself began to wear “a hard hair shirt on his body, and on top of another, very worn, which he put on so as not to show people the lower prickly hair shirt; introduced a common meal for everyone and only from those products that he himself ordered (he even forced them to throw “unnecessary” food into the river). The Charter of the Pechersk Monastery, and consequently, the orders introduced by Theodosius, extended to other monasteries.

Having gained strength and influence, Theodosius went further in his plans and actions. He began to influence worldly life, speaking out against princely strife. He fought with Prince Svyatoslav after the brothers Svyatoslav and Vsevolod drove their elder brother Izyaslav from the throne of Kyiv.

In the end, Svyatoslav and Theodosius reconciled: religious and princely power could not exist without each other in those days. Svyatoslav became a frequent guest in the monastery, Theodosius - in the prince's chamber.

The severity of Theodosius often terrified Christian souls that were not yet strong. Even the invasions of nomads were interpreted by him as God's punishment for human sins.

chronicle view(according to V.O. Klyuchevsky):“The chronicler describes the invasion of the filthy on the Russian land, the troubles that she suffers from them. Why does God let the unbelievers triumph over Christians? Do not think that God loves the former more than the latter: no, he allows the filthy to triumph over us, not because he loves them, but because he has mercy on us and wants to make us worthy of his mercy, so that we, enlightened by misfortunes, leave the path of wickedness. The filthy ones are the batog with which providence corrects its children.

Theodosius performed good deeds in abundance. In his teachings and in deeds, he was known as a guardian of the humiliated and wretched: he declared intercession for those unjustly offended by secular authorities (there is a known case when Theodosius influenced the judge to protect an offended widow), built an almshouse (charitable institution) for the sick and crippled, sent prisoners in dungeons bread from the monastery.

And the loving mother Theodosius for a long time consoled herself with the hope of returning her son to worldly life. But he remained adamant to her prayers. At the request of the suffering and aged mother to see each other at least more often, Theodosius advised her to have a haircut and go to a nunnery - the only chance for their rapprochement. And the mother followed his advice ...

Theodosius of the Pechersk with his life in 14 hallmarks, icon

Theodosius owns two messages to Prince Izyaslav Yaroslavich, teachings "for various occasions", as well as prayers "for all the peasants." All of them are written simply and with great feeling: for the brethren - about monastic vows (especially about non-covetousness) and duties; for the people - about the fight against paganism; for all - against idolatry and drunkenness.

The relevance of the testaments of the father of Russian monasticism is on the surface of the realities of modern times. His teachings and experience in the struggle for the preservation of religious and state values ​​are an excellent example for the modern leaders of the Slavic states and ministers of the Russian Orthodox Church. Theodosius fought against princely strife - today the leaders of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia would have acted the same consistently with God in their souls and deeds to ensure unity between our fraternal peoples. The abbot fought for the purity of the Orthodox religion and the moral impeccability of its ministers - and here there is something for the current pastors of the Orthodox Church to learn in order to heal the church schism in Ukraine.

As a testament to us, now living and to all subsequent generations of Orthodox people, the words of Theodosius of the Caves sound: “There is no better faith than ours, pure, honest, holy; living in this faith, you can get rid of sins, become a partaker of eternal life.

	Venerable Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves. 17th century icon Chernihiv region.

Venerable Theodosius of the Caves, founder of the first cenobitic monastery in Russia, was born at the beginning of the 11th century in the town of Vasilevo (Vasilkovo) near Kyiv. In holy Baptism he was named Theodosius. The childhood and adolescence of the future ascetic passed in the city of Kursk, where his parents moved. The Monk Theodosius from childhood fell in love with the Church of God and went to church every day. He eschewed games with his peers, preferring to listen to the Holy Scriptures. Sent to literacy, he, to the surprise of his relatives, very quickly excelled in learning. At the age of 13, the boy lost his father and remained in the care of his mother. From that time on, he began to perform various hard work together with the servants, dressed in simple, coarse clothes without any decorations, for which he received reproaches from his mother.
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 Saint 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

Four years later, the Monk Theodosius was found by his mother. She came to Kyiv and began to persuade her son to return home, promising not to forbid him to live as he wants. The Monk Theodosius, on the contrary, began to ask her to stay in Kyiv and take monastic vows in one of the women's monasteries. Through his fervent prayers, the Lord softened his mother's heart, and she took the vows at the Kiev Nikolsky Monastery, where she died in peace after many years. In 1054 the reverend
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 Russia, the Charter of the Studion Monastery was introduced in the Caves Monastery. The Monk Theodosius specifically 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.

The fame of the charitable life of St. Theodosius spread throughout Russia. Many began to come to him for guidance. The prince of Kyiv Izyaslav, the son of Yaroslav the Wise, especially venerated the saint. Seeing such an honor, the monk tried to humble himself even more with labor. The holy abbot himself worked in the bakery, carried water, chopped wood. The monk's clothes were poor, under which he wore a coarse sackcloth.
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 church was founded in 1073, during the life of St. Theodosius, and the construction of the church 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 about diligent attendance at church, about the fear of God, about 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 Dormition 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

Several works of St. Theodosius have survived to our time: six teachings and two epistles, as well as a prayer for all Christians. In his teachings, the Monk Theodosius wrote about monastic vows and duties; he dwells in particular detail on the vow of non-possession. In his teachings for the people, he resolutely rebelled against various pagan customs that were still common in Russia at that time. The Monk Theodosius armed himself especially strongly against the vicious sin of drunkenness.
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 gray hair, simple hair, Vlasiev’s beard at the end, 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, which neither Nestor the Chronicler nor the Patericon of the Caves, who were engaged exclusively in the glorification of the famous Lavra, speak of. 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 because 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).

Theodosius Pechersky

F Theodosius of the Caves - Reverend, hegumen of Kiev-Pechersk, the first founder of a monastic community in Russian monasteries. Born in Vasilevo (now the county town of Vasilkov, 35 miles from Kyiv) and came from a well-born family. Neither the name Theodosius (worldly), nor the year of birth are known; the latter is approximately attributed to 1036. Theodosius' young years passed in Kursk, where, at the command of the prince, his parents moved: Theodosius' father was one of the princely tiuns at the Kursk mayor. Having reached the age of 7, he began to learn to read and write, and then he was assigned to a school, where he stayed until the age of 13. Acquainted from books and stories with the life of the great ascetics of monasticism, Theodosius took the firm intention of imitating them. For 14 years, Theodosius lost his father, and this had such an effect on him that he decided to start fulfilling his cherished dream - to renounce the world. Opposition to the ascetic inclinations of the young man came from the mother: she loved her son very much, but did not sympathize with his aspirations for an ascetic life and tried by all means to deflect him from this. Theodosius decided to leave his mother's house and, carried away by the stories of wanderers about the holy places of Palestine, left home with them. An attempt to go with the wanderers to Jerusalem was unsuccessful: overtaken by his mother, he, beaten and bound, was returned home; so that he would not run away again, his mother put fetters on his feet and took them off only when he gave his word not to run away from home. But these oppressions only strengthened the ascetic aspirations of the young man. Secretly from his mother, Theodosius began to wear chains, but she noticed this and tore off his chains. Theodosius fled to Kyiv, where Anthony was received and tonsured. Then the name Theodosius was given to him; this happened around 1056-57. The lofty spiritual exploits of the Monk Theodosius so advanced him from a number of other brethren that, upon the removal of the hegumen, Anthony appointed Theodosius as hegumen, despite the fact that he was no more than 26 years old. From the very beginning of his abbess, he set about building a monastery. Pure brethren increased from 20 to 100, and as a result, it became necessary to introduce a strictly defined charter. At the request of Theodosius, he was sent from Constantinople a list of the charter of the Studian monastery, which was laid at the foundation of life in the Caves monastery. The charter prescribed the full and strictest community life; the monks had to be content with a common meal and have the same clothes; all property of the brethren must be common; time was spent in unceasing labor. Theodosius was stricter with himself than with others; in addition to the general feat, he subjected himself to extremely ascetic trials and exercises of the will. As a young man, he began to wear chains. Boyars and princes were especially disposed towards the reverend. The influence of St. Theodosius on them was very beneficial. The time of Theodosius' monasticism coincided with a difficult and troubled period in relations between the princes. The feuds were in full swing. Theodosius enjoyed the respect of the Grand Duke, who loved pious conversation with the monk. Theodosius did not remain a passive spectator of the taking away of the Kyiv table from his older brother Izyaslav and the expulsion of the latter. Theodosius opposes violence with a range of denunciations; also wrote accusatory "epistoles" to Svyatoslav. Taking care of the internal organization of his monastery, Theodosius did a lot for its external improvement. After 11 or 12 years as abbess, Theodosius, due to the multiplication of the brethren and the scarcity of the former monastic buildings, decided to build a new, vast monastery. The place for it was chosen near the second cave of St. Anthony. A great stone church was founded on this site (1073). On May 3, 1074, Theodosius died. The Monk Theodosius was buried in the cave in which, under the guidance of Anthony, he began his exploits. The discovery of the relics of St. Theodosius followed in 1091. Commemoration is celebrated on May 3 and August 14. In 1089 the church, founded by the Monk Theodosius, was consecrated, and the monastery was transferred to it; the former cave monastery has now become a tomb for the burial of the dead. Founded by the Monk Anthony and arranged by the Monk Theodosius. The Kiev-Pechersk monastery became a model for all other monasteries. The Monk Theodosius left five teachings to the monks of the Caves in full form (the first and second - on patience and love, the third - on patience and almsgiving, the fourth - on humility, the fifth - on going to church and on prayer), one to the cellarium, four so called excerpts from teachings to monks and laity, two teachings to the people "about the executions of God" and "troparion cups", two letters to the Grand Duke Izyaslav ["about the peasant and Latin faith" and "the slaughter of animals on Sunday (week) and fasting in Wednesday and Friday"] and two prayers (one - "for all Christians", the other - written at the request of the Varangian prince Shimon, the so-called permissive prayer). From the teachings to the monks, we learn the dark sides of the then monastic life, which neither the Pechersk Paterikon, who was engaged exclusively in the glorification of the famous Lavra, talk about. 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 because he supported the strange and poor with monastic funds. Two teachings of Theodosius are addressed to the whole people: one "on the executions of God" for sins - a remarkably depicted remnant 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 epistles to the Grand Duke Izyaslav answer modern questions: the question of fasting on Wednesday and Friday is decided in accordance with the Studian charter; 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. Historically, 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; for example, the latest scientific research considers two teachings - "about the executions of God" and "about the troparion cups" - not belonging to Theodosius. Literature. The life of Theodosius is described by Nestor the chronicler (translation into modern language by the reverend in "Notes of the Academy of Sciences", 2nd section, book II, issue 3, 1856). See Professor "History of the Russian Church" (1901), Rev. "History of the Russian Church" (1868); "St. Abbot Theodosius" ("Moskvityanin", 1850, book 23); academician "History of Russian Literature" (St. Petersburg, 1887, edition II, part II); "Sources of the Teachings of the Monk Theodosius of the Caves on the executions of God" (in the "Proceedings of the Kyiv Theological Academy" for 1887, Volume II - "Archaeological Notes"); N.K. N. (Nikolsky), "Monuments of ancient Russian educational literature" (1894, issue 1); V.A. Chagovets "Reverend Theodosius of the Caves, his life and writings" (1901); Bishop of Vyborg

The Monk Theodosius of the Caves - a prayer book for Kyiv and all our Fatherland: I will always be with you in spirit

On August 27, the Orthodox Church celebrates the transfer of the relics of St. Theodosius of the Caves from the caves to the Assumption Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

The special significance of St. Theodosius for Orthodoxy is evidenced by the fact that he became the second saint after princes Boris and Gleb, canonized in 1108.

Theodosius was born in the ancient town of Vasiliev (now Vasilkov) in 1036. From childhood, he differed from his peers in his special religiosity, a penchant for solitude and spiritual reflection. At the same time, Theodosius was noticeably drawn to study, to reading spiritual literature, which he enthusiastically mastered.

Thoughts about monastic life, about renunciation of the world, from an early age did not leave the young Theodosius. After many life trials and searches, the young man reached Kyiv and became a student of St. Anthony of the Caves. In 1058, Saint Nikon the Great, hegumen of the Caves monastery, tonsured Theodosius a monk.

All the years of his monastic feat were spent in hard work. Never caring about his sinful body, he was concerned only with his soul and its salvation. He was never afraid and did not shy away from hard work, but always looked for it and with pleasure did everything for himself and for other monks. The Monk Theodosius always prayed fervently and sincerely. During Lent, he retired to a separate cave, being in seclusion and seclusion until Easter itself.

For monastic deeds and special virtues, the brethren of the monastery elected the Monk Theodosius as their abbot in 1062. In this spiritual field, he showed himself, first of all, as the builder of the Caves monastery.

The monk founded an above-ground monastery at the site of his exploits, transferring monastic cells from narrow cave passages to stone and wooden buildings. Under his abbess, all the main churches and cells of the monastery were built. In addition, next to the monastery, the Monk Theodosius built a temple in honor of the First Martyr Archdeacon Stephen with a room for sick and needy people.

The monk also deducted a tithe from the income of the monastery for their needs. It is necessary to especially note the forgiveness, love and tolerance towards the neighbors of St. Theodosius. Despite the meekness and kindness of character, the Monk Theodosius ruled the Pechersk monastery with a firm paternal hand. He was the first to introduce the Studian charter into the cloisters, which served as an example for all other monasteries of Kievan Rus.

The Monk Theodosius died a year after the Monk Anthony, in 1074. Before his death, he gathered all the monastic brethren around him, commanding them pure and faithful service to the Church and God, patience and love for others. After his death, the body of the Monk Theodosius was buried in his cell in the Far Caves.

In 1091, hegumen John consulted with the brethren of the Caves monastery and decided that the relics of the Monk Father Theodosius should be in the main monastery church. They decided to transfer the relics of the monk to the Assumption Cathedral.

Finding the holy relics was entrusted to the Monk Nestor the Chronicler, who later described this event. Three days before the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, hegumen John took Nestor to the cave of St. Theodosius. After examining the cave, they outlined the place where it was necessary to dig. The hegumen forbade Saint Nestor to tell the brethren about the excavations until the relics were found. To help, the father hegumen allowed Nestor to take whomever he wanted.

The Monk Nestor and two assistant monks dug in the Far Caves from dusk till dawn, but could not find anything. They began to mourn and weep, thinking that the saint did not favor their search. At the same time, this thought was replaced by another - are they looking in the right place? And they began to dig from the opposite side.

They had just hit the morning service, when the Monk Nestor stumbled upon the tomb of the Monk Theodosius. The relics turned out to be incorruptible, the joints did not fall apart, only the hair on the head dried up.

The discovery of the relics of the monk was accompanied by various miracles. That night, many saw an unusual bright light that spread over the monastery.

A miraculous sign that night was also seen by Bishop Stefan of Vladimir (abbot of the Pechersk monastery in 1074-1078), who was in Kyiv in the Klovsky monastery and knew about the search for the relics of St. Theodosius.

When Bishop Stefan saw a bright light above the monastery at night, he thought that they had begun the transfer of the relics without him. He mounted a horse, together with Clement, hegumen of the Klovsky monastery, went to the cave of the monk. When they approached the cave, they saw a lot of bright candles above it, but when they got very close, they did not find anything similar.

The next day, the relics were solemnly transferred to the Assumption Cathedral, where they were placed in a specially prepared place, on the right.

In 1108, at the request of hegumen Theoktist, Metropolitan Nicephorus of Kyiv decided at the Council to inscribe Theodosius in the Synodikon in all dioceses. This meant that from that moment they began to celebrate not only the blessed death of the Monk Theodosius, but also the transfer of his incorruptible relics.

Subsequently, on the donations of the princes for the relics, a precious silver shrine was made. In 1240, during the invasion of the Mongol-Tatars, this shrine, along with other sacred relics, was hidden by the brethren of the monastery under the vault of the Assumption Cathedral, where it is still located.

The Monk Theodosius, even after his death, does not leave his spiritual guardianship over the Pechersk Lavra, Kyiv and our entire Fatherland, because, as the saint himself said: “In body I depart from you, but in spirit I will always be with you.”

Archimandrite Damian (Radzikhovsky), guardian of the Far Caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

TRANSFER OF THE RELIGIONS OF THEODOSIY OF PECHERSKY

In the eighteenth year after the blessed death Saint Theodosius(+1074; Comm. 3/16 May), by the will of God, his incorruptible relics were transferred from the cave to the Lavra church. In 1091, the brethren of the holy, great and miraculous Pechersk Lavra, having gathered together with their hegumen John, unanimously decided to open the burial place of the Monk Theodosius and transfer his holy relics to the cathedral church of the Dormition. " We should, brethren, they said - always have before our eyes the honest shrine of our father and always bring him worthy worship. It is inconvenient for him to stay in another place than the monastery and his church, because he founded it and gathered monastics. Finding the holy relics was entrusted to the Monk Nestor the Chronicler, who later described their finding..

Three days before the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, hegumen John took the Monk Nestor to the cave of the Monk Theodosius. After examining the cave, they determined the place where they needed to dig. The hegumen of the monastery forbade the Monk Nestor to inform the brethren about the excavations until the holy relics were found. To help him, the father hegumen allowed him to take whomever he wanted. Blessed Nestor himself testifies of himself thus: “Deep in the evening I took with me two brothers, men of a wonderful life - no one else knew. When they came
into the cave, then, having made a prayer with worship, they immediately set to work with the singing of psalm songs. I began to dig; after much labor, I gave the spade to another brother. So they dug until midnight and could not find the relics of the saint. Then we began to mourn and weep; at first they thought that the saint did not deign to reveal himself to us, this thought was replaced by another: are we digging in the other direction. And then they began to dig from the other side. Morning came, the bell was struck for matins, and we all dug without ceasing. Suddenly I feel that I have reached the coffin; great fear fell upon me and I began to exclaim: "Lord, have mercy on me for the sake of the Monk Theodosius." Immediately he sent to the hegumen to say: “Come, father, carry out the holy relics of the monk.” When the abbot came, I still dug the ground and we saw the holy relics, incorruptible resting. All the compositions were intact, the face was bright, the eyes were closed, the lips were closed, the head hair was stuck to the head. Having laid the relics on the bed, we carried them out of the cave. The opening of the holy relics of St. Theodosius was marked by wondrous signs and miracles. At night, when they dug up the grave of the monk, many saw an extraordinary radiant light over the cave of Theodosius, spreading over the Great Lavra Church, where his holy relics were transferred.

A miraculous sign was seen that night by Bishop Stefan of Vladimir, who in 1074-1078. He was hegumen of the Caves Monastery. He was then in Kyiv in the Klovsky Monastery and knew about the imminent transfer of the holy relics of St. Theodosius. When Bishop Stefan saw a great glow above the cave at night, he thought that the transfer had begun without it. Immediately he mounted his horse and, together with Clement, hegumen of the Klovsky monastery, went to the cave of the monk. When they approached the cave, they saw many candles above it, but when they got quite close, they saw nothing.

That night, two brothers were awake in the Pechersky Monastery, watching, when the abbot secretly, with a brother unknown to them, transferred the relics of the saint; and they gazed diligently towards the cave. When they hit the church beater in the morning, they noticed that three pillars in the form of like luminous arcs, having stood over the cave of the Monk Theodosius, moved to the top of the Great Church, where the monk was to be transferred. This was also seen by other monks on their way to church for matins; seen in the city itself by many of the pious citizens.

On August 14, on the feast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, the bishops gathered - Ephraim of Pereyaslav, Stefan of Vladimir, John of Chernigov, Yuryevsky Marin and Anthony of Polotsk, as well as abbots of many monasteries with monks and many Orthodox laity. The even relics of St. Theodosius were transferred with due honors to a prepared place on the right side of the porch of the Dormition Cathedral of the monastery.
During the transfer of the holy relics, the procession stopped for a rest. The relics were placed on a tree stump. Later, a temple was built on this site in the name of the Monk Theodosius, it was located so that the stump was on the site of the throne.

From the tomb of our father, the Monk Theodosius, healings of the sick occurred, in multitudes flowing to his holy relics. And 18 years later, after the transfer of honorable relics, the Monk Theodosius of the Caves by the Cathedral of the Russian Church was canonized as a saint, and his memory has been solemnly celebrated since that time by the entire Orthodox Church. “Rejoice, Father Theodosius,” she sings, “our praise and magnificence! Your Lavra boasts of you, and your name is glorious to the ends of the universe.”

According to the site vosvera.ru

Holy Assumption Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

Venerable Theodosius of the Caves

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 Russia, 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, where the great righteous and ascetic, the founder of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, Elder Anthony (the photo of his icon can be seen below) labored in those years in an earthen cave. 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.

Assuming 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. For example, there is a case when Prince Izyaslav Yaroslavovich of Kyiv, having arrived at the monastery at an odd hour, was forced to wait at its gates until the time for the admission of pilgrims came. 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 an idle 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 Kyiv, 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.