Theodotus Levchenko of Glinsk

Holy Venerable Theodotus Levchenko of Glinsk, a monk, was a native of the Chernigov province, Glukhov district, the village of Chertorich, of simple Cossack stock, and died in 1859. In the world he was called Theodosius Levchenko. He had not been taught to read and write. His father, an honest man and a good Christian, raised him in the fear of God and instilled in him from childhood a love of holy and virtuous life.

Life at Glinsk

When, by God's will, the time came for him to withdraw from the world, he obtained a document of free residence in various places in Russia and left his homeland for ever, as if he had died to it. He went where divine providence led him, that is to the Glinsk Hermitage, where he entered the brotherhood of the time, not numerous. He was assigned to the brotherhood's kitchen and there, for more than seventy years, he bore the hardest obedience, enduring blows and humiliations with great humility. Some people, instead of treating his simplicity and kindness with love, behaved very harshly and contemptuously to him and often beat him, as he himself told later, and some of the brothers were witnesses. He bore it without murmuring, for the mortification of his own will.

Ascetic labour

The ascetic life of the novice Theodosius was not limited to bodily labour. The wise-⁠in-⁠Christ simple man, who had not learned to read, nevertheless prayed fervently and warmly. Some novices heard him at night in his cell making many prostrations and calling on the Mother of God and Jesus Christ: "Most Holy Mother of God, save us," "Jesus, Son of God, help us." In time it became evident that the ascetic Theodosius, by his tireless labours and malice-⁠free patience, had by God's grace reached the height of dispassion and received from God the gift of not fearing the spirits of wickedness; he looked without fear, with his foreseeing spiritual eye, at the devil's cunning designs, which he told to those around him and sought to dispel. In him the gift of foresight was visibly shown and he was held in great honour. The abbot of the Glinsk Hermitage, Hegumen Philaret, a man of great virtues and gifts, honoured Theodotus deeply and attributed great power to his prayers to God on behalf of his monastery. He told the brothers, "You see, brothers, God's favour towards our monastery; we have no special need, the Lord sends us all that is needed, but this favour toward us the humble is drawn down by the prayer of Elder Theodotus."

Prayer

His fervent prayer rose to the throne of God. The well-⁠known ascetic, Elder Macarius, who was then dean of the monastery, going out of the church once during the morning service, suddenly saw above the brotherhood's kitchen a pillar of light. Himself enlightened by the Spirit of God and understanding whence the appearance came, he quietly approached the kitchen door. Other devout brothers of the Glinsk Hermitage were granted to see the Venerable Theodotus at prayer in various wonderful states: some saw him raised from the ground, others lit by unearthly light. Often he prayed behind the kitchen stove, where on the wall hung his large wooden cross with the image of the crucified Saviour, and when he prayed before it, a bright radiance came from the cross. The brothers of the Glinsk Hermitage trusted Saint Theodotus, honoured him sincerely and loved him. A distinguishing trait of the saint at that time was childlike purity. In some cases he covered his humility with foolishness.

Repose

In May 1859 Saint Theodotus felt extreme exhaustion and had to leave the kitchen, the place of his labours, and was moved to the monastery's apiary. Here, in a cramped cell, lying on straw, he ended his course. Ten days beforehand he foretold the day of his death. In these last days the Holy Unction was performed over him and several times he was counted worthy to commune of the Body and Blood of the Lord. At the hour of the death of Elder Theodotus, the sacristan, the monk Dositheus, locking the church after Matins, suddenly heard wonderful, pleasant singing, which rang out loudly in the air above the apiary, then, rising gradually, above the forest, grew ever softer until it died away completely. So ended his long and laborious course the wonderful Elder Theodotus.

Veneration

His name was included in the calendar of the Russian Church by decision of the Council of Bishops of 2017. He is commemorated on 22 September (new style).