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[[Image:Anthony and Theodosius of Kiev Caves.jpg|right|frame|Ss. Anthony and Theodosius of the Kiev Caves]] Our venerable Father '''Theodosius of the Kiev Caves''', along with [[Anthony of the Kiev Caves|St Anthony of Kiev]], is considered to be founder in the eleventh century of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra ([[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]]) and of [[monasticism]] in Russia. He brought [[cenobitic]] monasticism to Kievan Rus'. His [[feast]] day is [[May 3]]. ==Life== The Venerable Theodosius was born in 1009. He grew up with his parents in Vasilkov and Kursk. His father was a judge. Theodosius was a pious and righteous youth, attending [[church]] everyday and reading the [[Holy Scripture|Scriptures]] attentively. His life was overtaken by love for God. He pursued a simple life and found pleasure working with the peasants, which was not consistent with the life his mother thought he should live. With the death of his father when he was thirteen Theodosius began to consider the Lord’s words: ''He that loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.'' (Matt. 10:37). With the Lord’s words in his mind he decided to leave his mother and to journey to Kiev to join the Venerable Anthony about whom he had heard. Upon meeting the young Theodosius, Anthony noted the austere life that he led and that his cave was small and uncomfortable. Theodosius replied that the Lord himself had led him to Anthony and that he, Theodosius, would obey him in everything. Foreseeing his future greatness, Anthony accepted him and bade the [[hieromonk]] Nikon to [[tonsure]] him. He was twenty-three years old. As the cave monastery grew, Anthony, in his desire to keep an austere life, moved to a new cave he had dug himself on a nearby hill, which became known as the Near Caves. He named [[Barlaam of the Kiev Caves|Barlaam of Kiev]] as the new [[abbot]]. Theodosius remained with Barlaam at the Far Caves [[monastery]]. After Barlaam left the cave monastery for the Dmitriev monastery, Theodosius was elected father superior by his brother [[monk]]s. In this position he watched over the lives of the monks, and, as a true leader, he set the example by sharing in the ordinary work of the community: carrying water, cutting wood, baking, and so on. He established near the monastery a shelter for the destitute and handicapped that was maintained by the monks using a tenth of the monastery’s income. With the growth of their community, Theodosius recognized the need for establishing rules for their community life. In establishing these rules he looked to the community life of the [[Studion Monastery]] in Constantinople and used the Studion rules as the basis for governing the community life in the caves monastery. With emphasis on the duty of charity and common good, the rules served to revive the ideal of strict cenobitism and gave Russian monasticism its characteristic warmth. Theodosius maintained his independence from the many quarrels of the princes and did not fear displeasure if he felt called as a spiritual father to admonish them. Even in the case of Prince Sviatoslav, whom he admonished for usurping the throne of his brother, Iziaslav, Theodosius was able to maintain peaceful relations. Sviatoslav even gave the land for building a new church of stone. Neither St. Theodosius nor St. Anthony were to see the completion of this church. The Venerable Anthony reposed in 1073, followed by the Venerable Theodosius on [[May 3]], 1074. Before his passing Theodosius blessed his disciple Stefan to replace him as [[abbot]]. Initially, laid to rest in the cave, when in 1092 the monastery brethren transferred his [[relics]] to the new [[cathedral]] [[church]], the abbot accompanied by the monk Nestor, chronicler of the [[Primary Chronicle]], discovered his relics to be incorrupt. In a solemn procession the relics were transferred to the Dormition Cathedral on [[August 14]], 1092. In 1106, the Venerable Theodosius was glorified and added the list of canonized [[saint]]s. ==Legacy== The introduction of the Studion rule in the Kiev Cave monastery has been considered to be St. Theodosius’ greatest achievement. This rule would later spread to all Rus. He is considered today to be one of the first organizers of monasticism in the [[Church of Russia]]. St. Theodosius is also commemorated on [[August 28]] with the [[synaxis of those whose relics repose in the Far Caves of St Theodosius]]. ==External links== *[http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/anthony_theodosius.htm Ss Anthony and Theodosius] *[http://www.roca.org/OA/78/78g.htm St. Theodosius of the Caves] *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodosius_of_Kiev Wikipedia: Theodosius of Kiev] [[Category:Saints]] [[Category:Russian Saints]] [[ro:Teodosie al Peşterilor Kievului]]

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