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Thursday, November 12
Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite
Sinaxarion

Venerable

Theophilus the Cave-⁠dweller

of the Near Caves, Kyiv

A cave-⁠dweller of the Near Caves in Kyiv whose name survives in 11th-⁠century inscriptions; commemorated on 24 May.

Feast
May 24old style June 6
Era
11th century
Place
Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Near Caves
Order
Venerables

Life

Theophilus the Cave-⁠dweller was a hermit of the Near Caves of the Kyiv Lavra, honoured as a saint, with a commemoration on 24 May. His name came to light only on 24 May 1853, when in one branch of the Near Caves eleventh-⁠century inscriptions were found on the vaults: Lord, help your servant Theodosius and Theophilus, amen, many years; The grave of John the cave-⁠dweller, John the sinner lived here; and on a small oak board, John the cave-⁠dweller. So three new names of the fathers of the Caves were revealed: Theophilus, Theodosius and John. Nothing else is known of them.

Commemorated the same day May 24