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Venerable (Monastic)12th century

Venerable Nectarius the Obedient of the Kiev Near Caves

12th century

Also known as Nectarius of the Kiev Caves

A Kiev Caves monk known for obedience to the brethren and diligence in monastic labor.

November 29New Calendar
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December 12Old Calendar
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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Nectarius the Obedient of the Kiev Near Caves

Life

Nectarius the Obedient was a monastic of the Kiev Caves Monastery (Kyiv Pechersk Lavra) during the twelfth century. He is remembered chiefly for his unquestioning obedience to his elder and the brethren and for his diligence in monastic labor, from which he received the epithet 'the Obedient.'

According to the synaxarion he reposed peacefully after a life of much toil and many struggles, and was buried in the Near Caves of Saint Anthony. He is commemorated on November 29.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide
KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “Seeking the Highest...”) Having divinely armed yourself with purity of soul and firmly grasping unceasing prayer as a spear,
you have slain the armies of the demons.
Therefore, we beseech you, O Father Nektarios:
“Always intercede for those who honor you.”

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 8

The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Father,
for you took up the Cross and followed after Christ.
By so doing you taught us to disregard the flesh for it passes away
but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore, O venerable Nektarios, your spirit rejoices with the angels.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide
  1. 1057Founding of the cavesSaint Anthony establishes the caves at Kyiv that would become the Near Caves of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
  2. 12th centuryMonastic life at the CavesNectarius struggles in the Kiev Caves Monastery, becoming known as 'the Obedient' for his obedience to the brethren and his diligence in labor.
  3. 12th centuryRepose and burialHe reposes peacefully after many labors and is buried in the Near Caves of Saint Anthony.
  4. 1670Synaxis establishedThe general synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Near Caves is set on September 28, following restoration of the caves after earthquake damage.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributionsReadHide

Life and Monastic Labor

Nectarius entered the Kiev Caves Monastery in the twelfth century and lived out his monastic life there. The sources record little of his biography beyond the defining marks of his ascetic character: unquestioning obedience to the will of his elder and the older brethren, and a marked zeal for work.

It was for this obedience that he was called 'the Obedient,' a byname that has attached to him in the liturgical calendar. The synaxarion states that he reposed peacefully after a life of much toil and many labors and spiritual struggles.

Burial and the Near Caves

Following his death Nectarius was buried in the Near Caves of Saint Anthony at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Saint Anthony established these caves in 1057, and the network of medieval tunnels runs some 383 metres in length at depths of five to twenty metres, holding dozens of surviving burials and three underground churches.

Nectarius rests among the many venerated fathers of the Near Caves, whose company includes such figures as Nestor the Chronicler, the iconographer Alipy, and the physician Agapit.

Commemoration

Besides his individual feast on November 29, Nectarius is commemorated with the general synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Near Caves on September 28, and on the Second Sunday of Great Lent as part of the collective commemoration of the Caves fathers.

The September 28 synaxis dates to 1670, when the caves were restored following earthquake damage; it was originally observed on the first Saturday after the leave-taking of the Exaltation of the Cross. Liturgical texts, including a troparion and kontakion, have been composed in his honor.

Member ofReadHide
Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Near Caves
Commemorated together · Sep 28
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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints