Who is Theodosius of the Caucasus
The path of the hieroschemamonk of the Russian Orthodox Church began from Athos. At the age of 3, the boy left home and went to the holy mountain to pray to God. He got there with a group of pilgrims, was treated kindly and accepted for accommodation. According to Orthodox sources, on Mount Athos many years later, young Theodosius took monastic vows.
The real name of the saint is Kashin, after his tonsure he called himself “Caucasian”. It is believed that throughout his life the hieroschemamonk accomplished 3 greatest feats. This is monasticism, eldership and foolishness.
Athos remained a holy place for Theodosius throughout his life. He left it only to serve for 60 years near the Holy Sepulcher. Before his death, Theodosius returned to the holy mountain again.
Venerable Theodosius of the Caucasus, Hieroschemamonk
Oh, holy servant of God, reverend Father Theodosius! You, who loved Christ from your youth and followed Him alone, retired to the Holy Mount Athos, to the inheritance of the Mother of God, and from there you flowed to the Holy Sepulcher. There he remained in the priesthood for many years, making fervent prayers for the Russian Land, for the Orthodox Church and for the Russian people. When the hard years of atheism befell Holy Russia, you left Athos and Jerusalem and returned to your Fatherland, sharing the grief and suffering of your people and our holy Church, as a monk and clergyman, even before personal imprisonment. Your faith, meekness, humility and patience touched the hardened hearts of those who were imprisoned with you. In the years of battle, Father, you helped the Orthodox people overcome the enemy and adversary, and you saved many from despondency, grief and despair who wanted to end their lives. With your help the faithful were strengthened in their trust, for the Lord will not abandon our Fatherland, the Mother of God will preserve Her destiny, and God’s wrath will be transformed into mercy through Her prayers. Your arduous feat of Christ for the sake of foolishness surprised, father, not only us on earth, but also the celestials who appeared to you. This is what the prayer of a righteous person, aided by strong faith, can accomplish. You know our needs and sorrows, like Father Theodosius, you also know our desire to be with Christ. Having walked the narrow and thorny path of earthly existence, you carried a heavy yoke from your brothers, from infidels and fellow tribesmen. Remember us, Elder of God, at the throne of the Lord, for you promised to help everyone who turns to you. The memory of you in the Caucasian land, father, does not fade to this day: with faith and hope, Orthodox people flock to your resting place, asking for intercession and help. We ask you, Reverend Father Theodosius: help us in difficult times of life, in moments of sorrow and suffering, beg the Chief of the World, the Lord, that he may soften the evil and hardened hearts of men and pacify clans of the Caucasus. May the wicked councils of schismatics and heretics, rising up against the Holy Russian Church, be destroyed. Through your prayers, Holy One of God, may the Lord forgive us all our sins, may the arrows of the enemy and the wiles of the devil pass us by. Ask our Lord, the Creator and Provider of life, for time for repentance, for deliverance from destruction, for health for the sick, for restoration for the fallen, for consolation for those who grieve, for education for children in the fear of God, departing For those who live for eternity - a good preparation; for those who have departed - rest and inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom. Be, Father Theodosius, the patron and helper of all the faithful of the Caucasian land. May Holy Orthodoxy be strengthened and multiplied there and throughout Great Russia. We, strengthened by your holy prayers, will glorify the Life-Giving Trinity and your name, sanctified by God, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Chest of Spiritual Wisdom
Holy Archangels and Angels, Cherubim, Seraphim, Principalities, Powers, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, pray to God for us sinners. Holy apostles, martyrs, saints and saints, holy martyrs, holy fools, holy fools and all saints, pray to God for us sinners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Doxology of Elder Theodosius Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. Glory to Thee, Most Gracious, glory to Thee. Glory to Thee, my King, glory to Thee. Glory to Thee, my Creator, glory to Thee. Glory to Thee, Long-suffering, glory to Thee. Glory to Thee, O Most Merciful, glory to Thee. Glory to Thee, Lover of Mankind, glory to Thee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The monk also said: “When you are walking along the road and you see bread lying, do not pass by, but pick it up and put it to the side where people do not walk. Bread is the Body of Christ. A cat will run by and eat, a bird will fly in and bite. And if there is a large stone, a stick, or a broken bottle on the road - bend down, remove it, and you will be rewarded by God. If you don’t remove it, the blasphemer will walk, stumble and swear.” Father Theodosius gave his blessing to put bread on the table first, then salt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Here are the elder’s advice and sayings: “...If people knew what awaited them after death, they would pray to God day and night, otherwise they think - he’s dead and that’s the end of everything. Our life after earthly death is just beginning - with earthly suffering we earn Eternity. He who knows God endures everything..." "...Always have mortal memory with you, and also constantly keep in mind the thought - whatever you do, you do in the presence of God..." "...Our faith was brought from heaven, so do not submit circumstances of this century. A true Orthodox Christian fears not earthly death, but eternal death. The worst thing is to fear something more than God, and therefore sin...” “...Martyrdom for Christ’s sake is our path, and if the Lord punishes us, it is for the sake of our salvation from eternal torment. Accept all earthly sorrows with gratitude..." "...Salvation is given only through awareness of sins and heartfelt repentance, as well as through patience with sorrows. Whatever happens, accept it with humility and love. Save your neighbors as much as you can - those who can still hear. Do not disdain either the old or the young - even a drop of holiness spilled into the soul of your neighbor will give you reward..." "...Whoever speaks no more than seven words a day will be saved. Silence protects from all evil..." "...The Jesus Prayer contains the entire Gospel..." "...Whether you are working, walking, standing - read the Jesus Prayer, keep your mind and heart directed towards God, because the Lord can call at any moment... "...Read the Jesus Prayer and rejoice that the Savior allows you, unworthy and sinful, to pronounce His holy name..." "...The Jesus Prayer scorches demons, drives away evil thoughts, instills the fear of God, cleanses the soul and body..." "...The Jesus Prayer is more darkness of prayers - read it constantly, so that there is not even a small gap..." "... Making the sign of the cross, devote all your thoughts to God, love Him with all your heart, dedicate all your deeds to His glory... Teach a person to be baptized correctly - there will be a great reward ..." "...What is called destruction will be heavenly salvation, and the world will burn in hellish fire, and this is inevitable - be prepared for this imminent outcome with patience, humility and love..." "...Children! Whatever happens, everything is according to the will of God. Save your souls with patience. In the world, pray constantly, and the Lord Himself will manage everything. Remember that salvation is only in the Orthodox faith..."
Venerable Theodosius of the Caucasus
Life, miracles, akathists
With the blessing of Metropolitan Gideon of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz
Another bright lamp lit up in the church horizon of the ancient Caucasus. For his bitter tears and sighs, he found a prayer book, marvelous among the saints, dear to our land and the people living here - the Venerable Elder Theodosius, who lived and died in Minvody. The voice of the people is the voice of God. Believers have long honored this elder, make pilgrimages to the place of his burial, and many, very many receive what they ask for.
Unfortunately, recently, seeing the popularity of Elder Theodosius among the people and trying to make money on his memory, some representatives of the non-church writing brethren began to publish lives and akathists in different versions without the blessing of the Mother of the Church. But they cannot be considered plausible, salutary and useful.
This same work - what the diocesan commission for the canonization of saints managed to do - is offered to our pious people for soul-saving reading, moral edification and prayer.
Gideon, Metropolitan of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz
THE LIFE OF THE REVEREND THEODOSIUS OF THE CAUCASUS
Hieromonk Theodosius (in the world Fedor Fedorovich Kashin) was born on May 3, 1841 in the Perm province. His parents, Fyodor (he worked as a printer at the Demidov factory) and Ekaterina, were pious and deeply religious Christians and, despite poverty and having many children, they taught their children to live piously. The whole family attended church services, followed the morning and evening rules, never sat down at the table without prayer, never left the threshold without prayer, began every task with prayer, relying in everything on the will of God. With his mother's milk, the future great ascetic absorbed the words of psalms and chants.
At Fedor’s birth, the midwife received him “in his shirt.” “He will be a great priest - he was born in a monastic kamilavka,” she told her parents. The words turned out to be prophetic. The child grew and developed unusually quickly. From his mother’s womb, the Lord made him His chosen one and bestowed him with special grace-filled gifts, so that at a very young age, barely learning to walk and talk, he loved his Creator with all his pure childish soul and, being an infant in years, his mind far exceeded his age.
The fertile region, adorned with forests and rivers, had a beneficial effect on the boy’s soul. Already in infancy, as an adult, he went into the forest to pray. In the forest there was a large stone, to which little Fyodor came, climbed on it and prayed for a long time, like a child, fervently. One day, while he was praying, a voice came to him: “The stone on which you pray is from heaven.” That's what he called it - "Heaven's Stone."
It is not surprising that, possessing such a deep religious mood and desire for an ascetic life, Theodore Kashin directed his steps to the stronghold of monasticism - the holy Mount Athos. In the Iversky Monastery, over the course of several decades, he went from a novice to the rector of the cell of the Position of the Precious Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos subordinate to this ancient monastery and was ordained to the priesthood.
This is what the certificate of ordination of “a Russian native, the Most Reverend Theodosius, who firmly adheres to Orthodox teachings and leads an immaculate life and is recognized by everyone as such,” says, which was performed on December 12, 1897 by Metropolitan Nile, formerly Carpathian and Kassky. “Since the above-mentioned priest has all the qualities required for a confessor, we therefore give him permission to confess the thoughts of those who wish to begin confession /.../; and those elevated to the rank of priesthood, he is obliged to test and examine in detail, as required by the Apostolic and Conciliar Law. He is allowed to take monastic vows and test them and be their successor.”
In 1906, at an old age, the Elder returned to Russia, where he visited his parents’ home, but still chose the Caucasus as his place of residence, not the Urals, where he lived in the village of Kavkazskaya.
After 1917, Hieromonk Theodosius settled near the village of Temnye Buki (Gorny farm), 27 kilometers from the city of Krymsk, where a female monastic community gradually formed. In the vicinity of Krymsk, rumors about the extraordinary old man spread instantly. People began to come to him for blessings and advice, since he possessed the gift of spiritual insight.
He denounced some, healed others from illnesses, and healed others with words. He treated everyone with compassion and directed them on the path of salvation. He knew in advance who would turn to him and with what request, and foresaw the future life and death of his interlocutors. Here, in the desert, through the prayers of Father Theodosius, a source of spring water, which has the property of healing the afflicted, began to flow.
Miracles
In his old age, Theodosius received the gift of insight from the Lord. He saw the souls and thoughts of people coming to him, exposing their sinful thoughts and actions.
- One day, 7 women came to the beech desert. The eldest blessed the six and ordered the last to return home and return the husband to his wife and the father to his children. This pilgrim was having an affair with a married man. He followed the elder’s instructions and after some time returned to him for repentance and blessing.
- In Mineralnye Vody, the righteous man’s neighbor was an elderly woman who raised her teenage daughter on her own. A sinful thought crept into her head, forcing her daughter to engage in fornication in order to earn a living for the family. One day, standing at the well, he saw Kuzyuk’s grandfather (as the common people called the old man) throw his backpack at his door and leave. The woman untied the scarf and saw a lot of money in it. She wanted to return them to the old man, but Tom replied that the Lord had sent his help to save her from unclean thoughts and her daughter from falling. The repentant neighbor fell to her knees and began to thank the confessor. He advised her to turn with a prayer of gratitude to the Lord and the Mother of God.
- During the difficult war years, a nurse worked in a large family in a city hospital. They were starving, and the woman, overcome by despair, thought about suicide. One night Grandfather Kuzyuk knocked on her door and handed her a bag of sweets. In the morning she went to the elder, who said that by her act she would send the souls of her children to heaven, and she herself would suffer forever in hell. Soon the woman was offered a new job, and she began distributing bread to help the family survive the war years.
The station worker remembered the true miracle performed by the city's mad saint. He alone, holding a lit candle in his hand, pushed the carriages with ammunition away from the hospital building. A few minutes later a German shell fell on this place. If the carriages had remained in the same place, the hospital building and patients would have been seriously damaged.
Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God, a life-giving source in the desert of Theodosius of the Caucasus
After some time, Kuzyuk saved schoolchildren and kindergarten teachers from death. He walked up to the fence and called the children to run after him. The children obediently followed the dear old man. Following them, all the workers ran out of the building, trying to stop the students. At that moment, a grenade fell on the garden, completely destroying it.
After his earthly death, the Monk Theodosius continues to help people who believe in him. Eyewitnesses talk about many cases of physical healing and relief from mental disorders.
