Commemorating Venerable Theodosius, abbot of the Kiev Caves Monastery and founder of cenobitic monasticism in Russia (1074) May 16/3

 

Do you also, my brother, want to teach someone good, to reason with someone who is unwise - do not waste a lot of words, especially when you notice that your words have little effect on him, but teach him by deed, by a good example.

If you want to wean your children and your household from laziness, work yourself, be the first to work; if you want to teach them sobriety, never drink too much yourself.

If you want to wean your family from swearing, from foul language, never swear yourself and do not use foul language.

If you want your children to pray fervently, diligently attend the temple of God, pray every God's day, morning and evening, and visit God's house more often.

Do this, but talk less about it, do not boast that you yourself do this and that, otherwise your words will be self-praise, and your deeds will be deeds-only for show, i.e. will not be real good deeds, not real good examples. Only real good deeds can be good, powerful, soul-saving examples.

Saint Anthony, the founder of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, was born at the beginning of the 11th century in the city of Lyubech (near Chernigov) and was named Antipas at Baptism. From a young age, he felt attracted to a higher spiritual life and, inspired from above, decided to go to Athos. In one of the Athos monasteries, he took tonsure and began a solitary life in a cave near this monastery, which is still shown. When he acquired spiritual experience in his exploits, the hegumen gave him obedience so that he would go to Rus' and plant monasticism in this newly enlightened Christian country. Anthony obeyed. When the Monk Anthony came to Kyiv, there were already several monasteries here, founded by the Greeks at the request of the princes. But Saint Anthony did not choose any of them; he settled in a two-yard cave dug out by presbyter Hilarion. This was in 1051. Here Saint Anthony continued the exploits of a strict monastic life, for which he was famous on Mount Athos: his food was black bread every other day and water in an extremely moderate amount. Soon the fame of him spread not only in Kyiv, but also in other Russian cities. Many came to him for spiritual advice and blessings. Some began to ask him for residence. The first to be received was a certain Nikon, a priestly rank, the second was the Monk Theodosius.

The Monk Theodosius spent his youth in Kursk, where his parents lived. From an early age, he showed a pious mood of spirit: every day he went to church, diligently read the word of God, was distinguished by modesty, humility and other good qualities. Having learned that the liturgy was sometimes not served in the church due to a lack of prosphora, he decided to take up this business himself: he bought wheat, ground it with his own hands, and brought the baked prosphora to the church.

For these exploits, he suffered a lot of trouble from his mother, who loved him dearly, but did not sympathize with his aspirations. Having once heard the words of the Lord in the church: “Whoever loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Mt. 10:37), he decided to leave his mother (his father had already died) and his native city and appeared in Kiev to the Monk Anthony . “Do you see, child,” Anthony asked him, “that my cave is modest and cramped?” “God himself brought me to you,” answered Theodosius, “I will do what you command me.”

When the number of companions of St. Anthony increased to 12, he withdrew to a neighboring mountain, dug a cave for himself and began to asceticize in seclusion. Theodosius remained in the same place; soon he was elected abbot by the brethren and began to try to establish a proper hostel according to the charter of the Tsaregrad Studio monastery. The main features of the hostel founded by him were the following: all the property of the brethren should be common; time was spent in unceasing labors; the works were divided according to the strength of each by the abbot; each business began with a prayer and blessing of the elder; thoughts were revealed to the abbot, who was the true leader of all to salvation. The Monk Theodosius often went around the cells and observed if anyone had anything extra, and what the brethren were doing. Often even at night he came to the door of the cells, and if he heard the conversation of two or three monks who had come together, sometimes he would strike the door with a rod, and in the morning he would denounce the guilty. The monk himself was an example for the brethren in everything: he carried water, chopped wood, worked in a bakery, wore the simplest clothes, and was the first to come to church and to monastic work. In addition to ascetic deeds, St. Theodosius was distinguished by great mercy towards the poor and love for spiritual enlightenment, and he tried to win over his brethren to them. In the monastery, he arranged a special house for the poor, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed, and he devoted a tenth of the monastic income to their upkeep. In addition, every Sabbath he sent a whole cartload of bread to the prisoners in the dungeons.

From the writings of the Monk Theodosius are known: two teachings to the people, ten teachings to the monks, two epistles to the Grand Duke Izyaslav and two prayers.

Founded by St. Anthony and arranged by St. Theodosius, the Kiev-Pechersk monastery became a model for other monasteries and was of great importance for the development of the Russian Church. Famous archpastors, zealous preachers of the faith and remarkable writers came out of its walls. Of the saints, tonsurers of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, especially known are Saints Leonty and Isaiah (bishops of Rostov), ​​Nifont (bishop of Novgorod), the Monk Kuksha (enlightener of the Vyatichi), writers st. Nestor the Chronicler and Simon.

Troparion, tone 8:

Having risen to virtue, having loved the monastic life from the earliest times, you have attained to a valiant desire, you have dwelt in the cave, and having adorned your life with piety and luminosity, you have dwelt in prayer as incorporeal, in the Russian land as a shining light, Father Theodosius: Pray to Christ God to save our souls

Kontakion, tone 3:

Let us now honor the star of Russia, which shone forth from the East and came to the West: all this country has been enriched by its wonders and goodness, and all of us by the work and grace of the monastic order of the blessed Theodosius.