Life of St. Theodosius of Pechersk
Theodosius belonged to a noble class, his father was a military leader of the Kyiv prince Yaroslav the Wise. Approximate date of birth: 1036. Fulfilling the prince's will, the father and his family moved to Kursk to perform service. Here Theodosius lived until he was 17 (18) years old.
From early childhood, the boy showed a craving for spiritual knowledge. Having learned to read and write, he became interested in reading the Holy Scriptures and regularly attended church services. By nature, he was an easy-going, peace-loving child. Theodosius was not interested in the pranks and games of other children, he did not like rich clothes.
His mother loved him very much for his meek and obedient disposition, but she was irritated by Theodosius’ desire for privacy and excessive modesty in clothing. The powerful woman demanded that her son maintain decency and not cause ridicule from his peers and family acquaintances.
At the age of 14, Theodosius was left without a father. At this time he met pilgrims going to Kyiv. Captivated by their stories about holy places, the teenager went to Kyiv without his mother’s permission. His mother returned him home and severely punished him, demanding that he should not dare leave her in the future.
Theodosius continued to attend church. Seeing that there were not enough prosphoras in the church, the young man began to bake prosphoras himself and bring them to the liturgy. Such commitment angered the mother, who dreamed of a different path for her beloved son.
At the age of 17 (18), Theodosius heard at a service the saying of Jesus Christ that the one who loves his father and mother more than God is not worthy of Him. These words struck the young man. He firmly decided to leave his home forever and become a monk, devoting his life to serving the Lord. Following the merchant train, the righteous man reached Kyiv. Here, by God's providence, he met Saint Anthony, who founded a cell in a cave.
Anthony accepted the young man into his tiny monastery and soon tonsured him as a monk. The mother did not stop looking for her missing son and reached Kyiv, where she learned about his whereabouts. She tried to persuade the reverend to return to his old life and live with her while she lived. Theodosius invited her to become a nun in a Kiev monastery, which would give her the opportunity to see him. His mother agreed with his arguments and became a nun in one of the Kyiv monasteries.
Saint Anthony founded a monastery in caves, but when the number of inhabitants reached 12 people, he withdrew and went into seclusion in a remote cave. Theodosius continued the work begun by his spiritual mentor to create a monastery. Thanks to his efforts, a wooden monastery was built, where the monks moved.
For his labors, he was elected abbot of the new monastery, which later received the name of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.
The monk turned to the Patriarch of Constantinople with a request to send a copy of the monastic charter according to which the monks lived in Constantinople.
The monks of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra began to live according to this charter:
- the property became common to the monastery;
- each monk daily performed the work assigned by the abbot;
- any activity began with prayer and the blessing of a spiritual mentor;
- monks must regularly confess to the abbot of the monastery.
Theodosius, while in the position of abbot of the monastery, set an example for the brethren with his attitude to work and the performance of divine services. Instead of the abbot's robe, he wore simple clothes. During Great Lent, the monk went into seclusion in a cave for prayer and repentance, taking with him some bread and water.
Theodosius gave a tenth of the monastery's income to the poor, organizing a shelter for the poor and disabled at the monastery. The monk urged the brethren to show more mercy to their neighbors. To educate the monks at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, through the efforts of the abbot, a library with sacred texts was created.
Theodosius was the spiritual shepherd of the son of Yaroslav the Wise, Izyaslav Yaroslavovich. During the conflict between the brother princes, he strongly supported the claims of Izyaslav Yaroslavovich to reign in Kyiv, condemning the actions of Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich, who tried to overthrow his brother.
In 1074, after a short illness, the monk died, bequeathing himself to be buried in the cave where he had been during Lent. The brethren fulfilled Theodosius's last wish.
Monastic works
Nestor, when writing the life of Theodosius of Pechersk, loved to tell more than to describe, therefore little was written about the personal exploits of Theodosius and his spiritual appearance and in different places in the narrative. By combining these scattered facts, one can form an idea about the ascetic life of St. Theodosius. The most severe feats of self-mortification of his body are written about in the chronicle of the first years of his cave life. At night, struggling with carnal temptations, naked, the monk gives his body to mosquitoes and gadflies, while singing psalms. In the later life of Theodosius, one can see a desire to exhaust the body. Hiding his asceticism, he wore a hair shirt, slept sitting on a chair, and prayed intensely at night. Theodosius of Pechersk made up for the relatively small ascetic exercises with the continuity of his labors. Since childhood, strong and strong, he works both for himself and for others. While in the monastery under Abbot Varlaam, he grinds grain at night for the entire monastery brethren. And even later, Theodosius, abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk, often took up an ax himself to chop wood or draw water from a well instead of sleep or rest.
Creative heritage
Lists have been preserved from the theological works of the monk, addressed to monks, the prince of Kyiv and the laity. Feodosius gave Izyaslav Yaroslavovich explanations regarding fasting and attitude towards Catholics. The abbot was concerned about how the brethren should relate to the implementation of the monastic charter, divine services, and observance of Christian commandments. (The abbot’s authorship includes 7 teachings). Two prayers were dedicated to the laity.
Mercy of Saint Theodosius
Remaining meek and merciful always and in everything, treating equally the robbers who came to rob his monastery, or sinful and weak monks, Saint Theodosius of Pechersk not only did not isolate his monastery from the world, but also created the closest ties with worldly society. This is one of his testaments to Russian monasticism.
Near the monastery a house was built for the blind, lame and sick with a church in the name of St. Stefan. A tenth of the monastery’s total income was used to maintain this almshouse. On Saturdays, Theodosius sent a whole cart of bread to the city for prisoners in prisons.
The Monk Theodosius was the spiritual father of numerous lay people, including princes and boyars, who came to confess their sins. He began the tradition of choosing spiritual fathers among monks. From that time on, the clergy began to exert an even greater influence on the moral state of the people.
A quiet and meek mentor could be firm and persistent in those cases when it came to the desecrated truth. One of Nestor’s last stories tells of his intercession for an offended widow who came to him for help and, not recognizing him in shabby clothes, told about her misfortune.
Orthodox texts to the saint
When addressing a saint, one must remember that words must come from the heart; there can be no hostility or anger in the soul.
Troparion
Having risen to virtue, having loved the monastic life from childhood, having valiantly achieved your desire, you moved into a cave, and having adorned your life with fasting and lordship, you remained in prayers as if you were bodiless, shining like a bright light in the Russian land, Father Theodosius: pray to Christ God to be saved to our souls.
Kontakion
He was the heir of the fathers, reverend, following their life and teaching, morality and abstinence, prayer and standing. Because you have boldness towards the Lord, ask for forgiveness of sins and salvation for those crying out to you: Rejoice, Father Theodosius.
Prayer
O sacred head, earthly angel and heavenly man, venerable and God-bearing Father Theodosius, eminent servant of the Most Holy Theotokos, in Her holy name I built a wonderful monastery on the Pechersk mountains, and in it shone with many miracles. We pray to you with zeal for many things, pray for us to the Lord God, and ask from him great and rich mercy:
right faith, undoubted hope of salvation, unfeigned love for everyone, unshakable piety, health of soul and body, satisfaction with everyday needs, and may we not turn the good things given to us from His generous right hand into evil, but into the glory of His Holy Name, and into our salvation . Save, servant of God, by the intercession of your saints and pray: may the Lord liberate the suffering Russian country from the cruel atheists and their power, and may the Lord erect the throne of Orthodox rulers; May His faithful servants, in grief and sorrow cry out to Him day and night, hear the pained cry and bring our belly from destruction. Keep, O Reverend Wonderworker, your earthly Fatherland, the Orthodox-Russian country, all its cities and villages, your city, and your Lavra, unharmed from all evil, and all the people who flock to worship your honorable tomb, and who stay in your holy monastery, autumn your heavenly blessing, and mercifully deliver me from all evils and troubles. Most of all, at the hour of our death, show us your many-powerful protection: may we be delivered by your prayers to the Lord, the power of the fierce ruler of the world, and may we be worthy to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Show us, Father, your mercy, and do not leave us orphaned and helpless; Let us glorify the wondrous One in His saints, God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and your holy intercession, forever and ever. Amen.
Canon
Song 1
Irmos: Sometimes immerse the miraculous rod of Moses in the chariot of the persecutor of Pharaoh, striking the cross in the shape and dividing the sea, but save Israel the fugitive, save the pedestrian, singing the song of God.
Having acquired a godly feat, Father Theodosius, the God-seer appeared. In the same way, I pray to God, Whom you have pleased, to drive away the darkness of my ignorance, to breathe in the blessed word, to praise you.
From your mother's womb you cleave to God, O Reverend, like the wise Paul and the prophet Jeremiah of old. The same is Divine grace with your lips, Theodosius, called God's servant.
Having listened to the Savior's commandments from youth, wisely, having laid down this life for nothing, wanting to carry the cross on your shoulder, you hated everything on earth, looking at Heavenly things, Theodosius.
Theotokos: Having been incarnated from Your most pure births, the Most Holy Virgin, the Word of God, enlightened the love of God to everyone and vouchsafed triumph to the face of the Angels for men, raising them to Heaven.
Song 3
Irmos: O Supreme Creator of the heavenly circle, O Lord, and the Creator of the Church, Thou strengthenest me in Thy love, the desires of the land, the true affirmation, the only Lover of Mankind.
With incorruptible gifts and spiritual gifts, holy, your divine and blessed soul is enriched, you desired to see the Holy Sepulcher, but you were forbidden from above by God’s vision.
The sacrifice is perfect, true and immaculate, having desired to be the Lamb, who, with blessed, most pure blood, took away the sins of the whole world, you offered a bloodless sacrifice to Him.
You have acquired statutes from the very beginning of your youth, father, having been the autocrat of the mind, having escaped the worldly abyss, you have received instruction from the Divine Spirit.
Theotokos: Rejoice, thou who gave birth to the One Lord of all; Rejoice, having proclaimed joy to man; Rejoice, tabernacle and uninfested mountain, the affirmation of the faithful, the One Moving One.
Sedalen
More than the mind of man, you appeared, reverend, on earth, God’s sacred garden, standing in the midst of the house of the Lord, giving the fruit of your illnesses to your disciples: for from your lips you increased the grace of the Spirit, the image of deeds and the charter of those who love the Lord. Don’t stop praying to Him now that those who sing to you will be saved.
Song 4
Irmos: You are my strength, Lord, You are my strength, You are my God, You are my joy, do not leave the bosom of the Father and visit our poverty. Together with the prophet Habakkuk I call Ti: Glory to Your power, Lover of mankind.
The grace of the Spirit is in you, father, when you saw the one who gave birth to you, weeping and weeping strong, you, standing before streams of tears, were an unshakable pillar and remained motionless.
Fierce people, the all-evil enemy, strives to tear you away, Theodosius, from the nest adorned, desired by you, but you counted this as nothing, driving away these regiments with your prayers and singing: Glory to your power, Lover of mankind.
Sprinkling yourself with spiritual rain, and watering yourself with an animal source, and with the tongue of the mentor Anthony, you grew the Divine class and fed multitudes, becoming Joseph’s truly inexhaustible granary.
Theotokos: Who can utter worthily the depths of Your miracles, O Pure One? By You, the whole world, bringing Your praise, will have mercy and be delivered from severe troubles and various evils, and the enemy from misfortunes.
Song 5
Irmos: Thou hast cast me away from Thy presence, O everlasting Light, and an alien darkness has covered me, the accursed one? But turn me and direct my path to the light of Your commandments, I pray.
Through virtuous deeds you have brought forth your correction, Father: for you have created a dwelling that was evil in ancient times in a vast way, bringing many worshipers to God, who thereby gives every satisfaction through your prayers.
With the bright dawns of your exploits, the multitude of demons were driven away from your home, for the grace of the Spirit, the Creator of all, descended upon you and revealed the glory to you, Theodosius.
You sang of the Generous Savior in the midst of the church, and You also sent Your rich generosity to you, resolving sorrow through poverty, and pouring out ever-flowing gifts to your flock.
Theotokos: Exceeding the speed of the Highest powers, the God-gracious One, who conceived the Word, who created all things with the Word, and who gave birth from the Father before the ages to the indescribable birth.
Song 6
Irmos: I will pour out a prayer to the Lord and to Him I will proclaim my sorrows, for my soul is filled with evil and my stomach is approaching hell, and I pray like Jonah: from aphids, O God, lift me up.
Through prayers, and vigils, and the singing of psalms, you have continually created your soul into a Divine paradise, having grown the life-giving tree of the honorable tree, the Savior and the Lord.
You deigned to have secret humility, becoming like the Master of Poverty, O Blessed One: walking the path by your will, you accepted the command of a lazy slave to carry a cart to the Divine place, where you were known to worship from those who met you.
Like the feet of the One who washed His disciple, the God-Wise One, you deigned to scoop up water and carry it on a frame, and you brought wood with your own hands and slashed the head of the work as a monk.
Theotokos: The multi-wily enemy was put to death, O Mother of God, by You, who had previously destroyed all creation with decay, but by You He was slain to life with a sigh, for Thou hast truly given birth to the life of all, the Lord.
Kontakion, tone 3
Today we will honor the Russian star, which shone from the east and came to the west, having enriched this entire country with miracles and kindness and all of us with the deeds and grace of the monastic rule of Blessed Theodosius.
Ikos
Who will say that your feats are possible, father? Or who will count the multitude of your works and wondrous miracles? Even though you were in the flesh, you saw the Bodiless One, speaking to you in fleshly form and bringing you a gift, God-sent gold. You appeared more than a man with humility and a meek disposition and filled with spiritual wisdom. By receiving the Spirit within you, you were visible in the light, like the sun, shining. And while I sing to you, enlighten me with your radiance, O venerable monastic rule, Divine Theodosius.
Song 7
Irmos: Having come from Judea, the youths in Babylon sometimes, by the Trinity’s faith, asked the flames of the cave, singing: God of the fathers, blessed art thou.
To your prayers, blessed one, everyone, resorting to faith, will never be ashamed: receiving the grace of petition, father, and returning, rejoicing, singing: blessed is God our father.
You have appeared as a father and protector to the orphans, hope to widows, and to the sick, father, you have been the uprising of all. We also sing: blessed is God our father.
You were the fertilizer of a monk and the path of salvation for a man: having enriched all with your verbs of the Divine mysteries, you taught to say: blessed is God our father.
Theotokos: From a virgin’s womb, O Christ, you were incarnate and appeared for our salvation. To those who bring Your Mother to the Mother of God, we sing in gratitude: Blessed is God our father.
Song 8
Irmos: By the sevenfold, the Chaldean tormentor furiously kindled the cave of the Godly, but by the best power they were saved, having seen this, they cried out to the Creator and Savior: children, bless, priests, sing, O people, exalt to all ages.
Like a divine prophet, having foreseen, Theodosius appeared, most blessed, for you commanded in spirit the one who brought the Gospel Scripture to you to carry out the Gospel, and cry out, confessing with pure meaning the sacrifice to the Most Pure Mother of God.
The pious prince, who maintains this land, will receive the ever-flowing incorruptible food to your dwelling, like the tree to the spring. Although I should shine a light on him, O blessed one, I cry out to the builder for his poverty, and at your command, let your whole vessel be filled with honey.
The angelic powers hastened your exploits, Theodosius, and the face of the saints praised your life, the bright and adorned joy of the monks. Thus even now, rejoicing in Him, rejoicing, singing in agreement: youths, bless, priests, sing, O people, exalt to all ages.
Theotokos: You, Most Pure Mother of God, I offer my life as the Guardian and Invincible Intercessor, be my Helper from troubles and sorrows, delivering Your unworthy servant, singing with love: fathers, bless, priests, sing, O people, exalt the Pure One forever.
Song 9
Irmos: Every hearing was frightened by the indescribable descent of God, as the Most High descended even to the flesh by the will of the Virgin, becoming Man from the Virgin’s womb. Also, the Most Pure Mother of God, faithfulness, greatness.
Your memory is to us today, like the sun, rising, reverend: we rejoice, kissing your shrine, and, all around, like the Divine ark, we faithfully sing your Dormition with the Highest Chinmi, Theodosius.
Rejoice, land of Russia, having received the treasure without stealing from the Lord, the great helper of the Blessed One and the intercessor of the warmth of Theodosius, and you, the beginning of the city of Russia, rejoice with a fasting face.
Gathering triumph now in your memory to glorify the Lord, giving you the good deeds that you have endured. In the same way, pray to Him, holy one, to deliver your flock from the temptation of the enemy, which you have acquired, wisely, through your prayers.
Save me, the only Savior, the harlot and the prodigal, who received warm repentance and publicans, Save, sigh, and be merciful, O Christ, to me, the prodigal, with the prayers of Your saint, driving away my multitude of sins.
Theotokos: Spare me, born as a Savior, preserving thee who gave birth to you without aphids at Christmas, when you sit down to judge my affairs, despising my sins and iniquities, sinless and merciful, like a lover of mankind.
The Love of Truth of Saint Theodosius
Intransigence to untruth leads the abbot to clashes not only with judges, but also with princes. His spiritual confrontation with Prince Svyatoslav, depicted in his life, completes the spiritual portrait of Theodosius and is a symbol of the attitude of the Church to the state of Ancient Rus'. When two brothers expel the elder from the Kyiv throne, take possession of the city and invite Theophanes to a feast, he refuses and denounces the brothers for the sins of murder and illegal possession of power, compares Prince Svyatoslav with Cain, and his brother with Abel. As a result, Prince Svyatoslav becomes angry. There are rumors about the expulsion of Theodosius.
Svyatoslav could not raise his hand against the righteous man and, in the end, comes with humility to the monastery of Theodosius in an attempt to make peace. Many times the righteous Theodosius unsuccessfully tried to beg Svyatoslav to reconcile with his brother, trying to reach the heart of the Kyiv prince. In the monastery, he orders everyone to pray for the legitimate exiled prince, and only after long requests from the brethren does he agree to remember Svyatoslav in second place.
The life of Saint Theodosius shows that the saint was ready to go into exile and death for the truth, and obeyed the law of love and life’s expediency. He considered it his duty to teach the princes, and their duty to obey his teachings. But Theodosius acts in relation to the princes not as having power, but as the embodiment of the meek power of Christ. The prayer to Theodosius of Pechersk calls for unshakable piety of souls and bodies, help and intercession, piety of the main persons of the country.
Such was Theodosius, living an integral spiritual life, pouring out the Light of Christ from the depths of his soul, measuring exploits and virtue with the gospel measure. This is how he remained in the memory of Russian asceticism, this is the life of Theodosius of Pechersk.
What do they pray to the Saint for?
Orthodox Christians turn to the great elder in many situations that require strong help and support:
- for diseases of the body or soul;
- in extreme need and poverty;
- in case of failures at work, conflicts in the family;
- in case of large debts;
- in case of doubts, weakening of faith in Christ;
- with an inability to resist sinful temptations.
Prayers to the Saint help to overcome various difficulties that arise on the path of true believers. A sincere appeal to the miracle worker protects against persecution, envy, slander, and evil enemy intentions. Theodosius of Pechersk has long been considered a faithful intercessor and patron of monks who have recently taken monastic vows and dedicated themselves to God.
For many centuries, the reverend elder has been one of the most revered Russian saints. In honor of the great righteous man and miracle worker, numerous prayers and akathists were composed, Orthodox churches and monasteries were built. There are at least thirteen churches in Russia, many of which are owned by monasteries.
