Theodore of Pechersk

Holy Venerable Martyr Theodore of Pechersk struggled in the eleventh century in the Near Caves of Kyiv, together with the Venerable Martyr Basil. Theodore gave his wealth to the poor, withdrew to the monastery and settled in the Varangian cave, next to the caves of the Venerable Theodosius. For many years he remained there in strict abstinence. When the enemy sowed in him sorrow over the wealth he had given away, Saint Basil comforted him and begged him not to lose his reward, offering him everything he had. Theodore repented, loved Basil from his heart, and they lived together in the same cell. Once Basil had an obedience for three months outside the monastery. A demon, taking his form, came to Theodore and showed him the treasures hidden once in the cave by robbers. The monk was ready to leave the monastery to buy an estate and live in the world, but when Basil returned the demonic deceit was revealed. From then on Theodore was more attentive to himself. So as not to be carried off by thoughts in idleness, he set up a millstone and ground grain at night. Thus, by long and earnest labours, he was freed from the passion of avarice.

A rumour reached Prince Mstislav Svyatopolchich that the monk Theodore had found many treasures in the cave. He summoned him and ordered him to show the place where they were hidden. Saint Theodore answered that indeed he had seen much gold and many vessels in the cave, but out of temptation he had buried them, together with the monk Basil, and God had taken from his mind where he had hidden them. The prince did not believe him and ordered him tortured to death. Saint Theodore was beaten until his whole hair shirt was soaked with blood, then hung head down, with a fire lit beneath him. The prince, drunk, ordered Saint Basil also tortured, and then killed him himself with an arrow. Dying, Saint Basil threw the arrow at the feet of Prince Mstislav and foretold that he himself would soon be struck mortally by it. The prophecy was fulfilled: on 15 July 1099, on the wall of the fortress of Vladimir, during the civil war with David Igorevich, Mstislav was unexpectedly struck in the chest by an arrow through a gap in a plank, and died the next night. Recognizing his arrow, the prince said, "I die for the martyrs Basil and Theodore."

Theodore is commemorated on 24 August (new style), in the Synaxis of all the Venerable Fathers of the Kyiv Caves on a movable day (in the calendar on 28 March), and in the Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Near Caves on 11 October. Their story was also written down by Saint Demetrius of Rostov.