Basil and Theodore of the Kiev Caves

The Venerable Martyrs Basil and Theodore of the Caves were two monks of the Kyiv Caves Lavra, killed around 1098 by Prince Mstislav, son of Svyatopolk. Their story, preserved in the ancient Russian chronicle and in the Kyiv Caves Paterikon, tells of a temptation to love of money, a monastic friendship that freed Theodore from it, and a death endured for a treasure he would not surrender. They are honoured as martyrs by the Russian and Ukrainian Churches.

Theodore and the temptation of wealth

Theodore had been rich in the world. Hearing the Lord's words that no one can be His disciple who does not renounce all that he has, he gave his property to the poor and entered the Caves monastery. By the abbot's order he settled in the Varangian Cave, next to the caves of Saint Theodosius, and lived there for many years in strict abstinence.

One day the enemy brought him sorrow and longing for the wealth he had given away. He put into his mind that he would live many years, that his body would fail and that the monastery's food would not suffice. Theodore did not recognize the temptation and fell, as the chronicle says, close to despair, which he openly confided to his friends.

A monk named Basil, a perfect man in the monastic life, wished to comfort him. He told him that if he regretted his labour and wanted his property again, he should ask it of him and he would give it. But he urged him to consider whether the Lord would allow such a thing, and told him of a man in Constantinople who regretted gold he had given as alms. The man fell dead in the middle of the church and lost both the gold and his life. Theodore understood, wept over his fault and remained grateful to the brother who had saved him. From then on the two were bound in close friendship.

The second trial

Theodore grew in the commandments of the Lord, but the devil, defeated, prepared other snares. The abbot sent Basil on an obedience that lasted three months. Then the enemy took Basil's form and came to Theodore, pretending to speak of useful things. Theodore, not realizing, answered that he was growing through his prayers. The impostor advised him to ask God for plenty of gold and silver, to let no one come in and not to leave the cave. Theodore promised, and prayed, vowing to give it all as alms.

In his sleep a bright figure dressed like an angel appeared to him and showed him a treasure in the cave, not once but many times. After a few days Theodore dug in the place shown. According to tradition, Varangians had buried gold and costly vessels in his cave, and he did indeed find a great hoard. He then wished to leave the monastery, buy an estate and live in peace.

But Basil soon returned and persuaded him not to do so. Theodore accepted his friend's counsel and buried the treasure again. So that in idleness he would not be taken by harmful thoughts, he set a millstone in his cave and at night ground grain taken from the storehouse.

Martyrdom

Many years passed. Theodore, grown old, moved to the old monastery, where he built himself a cell after the Cumans burned it in 1096, and Basil settled in his cave. Prince Mstislav, son of Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, learned of the treasure Theodore had once buried. The chronicle observes that this was a time of transition, when Christianity was only beginning to take root and pagan customs were still alive.

Mstislav summoned Theodore and demanded he show the place of the treasure, promising to share it and to be grateful. Theodore refused, saying that he had forgotten. Even after the prince ordered him tortured he said nothing. They beat him until his hair shirt was soaked in blood, then hung him head down in thick smoke with a fire lit beneath him. The prince, drunk with wine and furious, ordered Basil beaten as well and shot an arrow at him. The two friends died the following night.

Their death is placed in 1098, since Mstislav died soon afterwards. On 15 July 1099 he was struck by an arrow on the wall of the fortress of Volodymyr and said before dying, "I die for Theodore and Basil".

Veneration

Their relics were buried in the Varangian Cave, where they struggled, and later moved to the cave of Saint Anthony, where they rest to this day. They are commemorated on 11 August by the old calendar (24 August by the new), a day which in Ukraine coincides with Independence Day. They are also named on 28 September (11 October by the new calendar) in the synaxis of the venerable fathers of the Near Caves.