Synaxis of the Saints of the Kiev Caves whose relics repose in the Far Cave of St. Theodosius

Commemorated on August 28

Moses, Wonderworker. He subdued his body in various ways. For example he carried an iron belt and an iron cross, which he made for himself, on his naked body. For his asceticism and labors he received the gift of working wonders.
Lawrence, Hermit.
Hilarion, Schema-monk.
Paphnutius, Hermit. Constantly crying in recollecting the hour of his death, so he led all his life, and dying he saw choirs of angels which, having come, took his soul and carried it to heaven.
Martyrius, Deacon. For his high purity and Lenten asceticism he became worthy of the deaconate and rewarded with the gift of miracles. Everyone for whom he prayed before God, standing on the ambo, received what they requested. He banished evil spirits by his prayer.
Theodore, Prince of Ostrog. He fervently built and adorned Orthodox temples in Volhynia and was the courageous defender of the Orthodox against the violence of Papism. Together with his acceptance of monasticism in the Kievan Monastery of the Caves he also accepted the new name of Theodosius (see July 6, page 231).
Athanasius, Hermit.
Dionysius, Hermit, nicknamed the Chip. He was a hieromonk and overseer of the caves in the Kievan Monastery of the Caves. Passing through this modest obedience, he achieved such holiness that on the day of Holy Pascha (as this is narrated in his Life), when coming to a cave to cense the relics of the saints, he said according to custom: "Christ is risen"! that at this moment was heard the response from all the relics: "Truly, He is risen"! This event so astounded Dionysius that he left for the solitary life.

Theophilus, Bishop of Novgorod. The last bishop of free Novgorod, he first practiced asceticism in the Otensky Monastery and during the time of St. Jonah he was the Protodeacon and the sacristan of the Episcopal see. After the death of St. Jonah, Theophilus was elected by lot as the Archbishop of Novgorod. He became known as a zealous adherent of Orthodoxy during the Novgorod civil wars. He died in about the year 1480 near Kiev where he went to venerate the saints. His relics repose in a reliquary.
Zeno, Faster and hard laborer. He pleased God with many ascetic efforts of the virtuous monastic way of life: fasting, prayer, humility and obedience.
Gregory, Wonderworker. He was distinguished by various ascetic efforts of abstinence, fasting and prayer. For food during all his life he was served uncooked grass, and for drink, water. He was vouchsafed by God with the gift of working wonders: all the infirm, partaking grass with water, by which he was fed, received healing.
Hypatius, Doctor and Healer. All day long he incessantly worked at monastic obedience, but at night he stood in prayer. Serving the Holy fathers during their illness, he himself received from God such a gift, that a touch of the hand healed the sick.
Lucian, Presbyter, endured martyrdom during the Batu invasion in 1239.
Joseph, the Sickly. Being many years in illness, he made a vow to his death to serve in the Monastery of the Caves if the Lord bestowed health to him. The Lord heard his prayer and he recovered. Having entered the monastery, he to his very death fervently practiced asceticism, pleasing the Lord through fasting and prayer and serving the monastic brothers with humble obedience.
Paul, the Obedient. He never was idle, as a lamb to the slaughter he carried out each obedience assigned to him by the rector.
Sisoe, Schema-monk. He carried out his life in great Lenten labors. God bestowed to him victory over passions and evil spirits.
Nestor (not the learned one who wrote the Russian Chronicles, but another, unlearned and of the simple sort). He so hotly served the Lord that he saw angels and Christ Himself during his prayers and learned the day of the death. Pambo. He endured suffering for his faith by the Tartar pagans. Probably, this was in 1240 when monks, who were shut in caves by the enemies, were compelled to send Pambo for food.
Pambo obediently took on this assignment, but was seized by the Tartars who subjected him to torture. Wonderfully saved from death, he died in seclusion.
Theodore, the Silent, embraced the way of silence for salvation.
Sophronius, Hermit. He daily read through the Psalter, always wore sackcloth of hair and an iron belt on his body.
Pancratius, Hieromonk, reposed in seclusion.
Anatolius, Hermit.
Ammon, Hermit.
Ven. Mardarius, Hermit. He tried to keep the fast, prayer and obedience, and inured himself to full disinterestedness so that he wanted nothing in his cell, except the clothes he wore.
Piorius, Hermit. He was especially distinguished for his fasting and diligence.
Martyrius, Hermit.
Rufus, Hermit.
Benjamin. A wealthy merchant, he distributed all his wealth, voluntarily accepted poverty and was tonsured a monk. His holy relics reposed incorruptibly.
Euphrosyne, Hegumena of Polotsk (see May 23).
Cassian, Hermit.
Arsenius, the Diligent. He never was idle, and always as he prayed, so also he fulfilled his monastic obedience. He never received food before sunset.
Euthymius, Schema-monk. He lived purely and silently, imitating the virtues of the great saints. Having accepted the schema, he never spoke with anyone. He never ate cooked food but only raw vegetables.
Titus. He was formerly a warrior. After he was tonsured, he earnestly practiced asceticism in fasting and prayer. With sincere prayerful tears he received from God such grace that while yet alive it was announced about the forgiveness of his sins.
Achilles, Deacon. He was a strict faster. For food he was served prosphora, partaken once a week.
Paisius and Mercurius the Faster. Living with each other in inseparable brotherly love and of one mind, they incessantly asked God that He not separate them from each other, neither in this life nor in the future. And after their death they were put in the same grave. Now they repose separately.
Macarius, Deacon. Being promised to God from childhood, he as a monk so sincerely served God in fasting and prayer that he was granted the gift of working wonders.
Poemen, the Faster. He was the Hegumen of the Monastery of the Caves from 1132 until 1141. He ate food only once a week and never weakened from fasting and labor.
Leontius and Gerontius, Canonarchs of the Great Church of the Monastery of the Caves. Both monks from adolescence pleased the Lord with prayers, abstinence and zealous learning of their services.
Zachary, the Faster. He ate only kernels of spring grain, using this poor food after sunset and in small quantity. He had the grace of driving away evil spirits.
Silouan, Schema-monk. According to the Canon, he was "zealous in purity and the keeper of gardens". He once by prayer caught thieves who came to steal the fruit, and then, after absolving them, let them go in peace.
Agatho, Wonderworker. By laying on of hands he healed the infirm. He had the gift of prophecy and insight.
Ignatius, Archimandrite of the Caves (since 1435). Through his prayers he healed many of the sick.
Longinus, Gatekeeper of the Caves. He knew the thoughts of the people who entered and left the monastery.
    All the Venerable Ones in the Cave of the Venerable Theodosius were 45, of them probably 32 are those who reposed and 13 are in seclusion. Besides this in the hand-written church calendar and memorials are commemorated the memory of those who repose or invisibly repose in the St. Theodosius Cave.