Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Far Caves
The fathers whose relics rest in the Far (Theodosius) Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra — recluses, fasters, canonarchs and schemamonks — commemorated together on August 28 besides their own days.
The Far Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra are also called the Theodosius Caves, after the second founder of the monastery. Saint Theodosius dug there when the brotherhood outgrew Anthony's first cave, and the tunnels that spread from it became the older of the two burial places of the Lavra's saints. The fathers whose relics rest in them are commemorated together on August 28.
The names in this synaxis are mostly not famous ones, and that is the character of the place: recluses, fasters, canonarchs, schemamonks, a lover-of-labour, a silent one. Several — Arsenius the Lover-of-Labour, Silvanus, Pimen, Alexius — keep their own days as well as this one. They belong to the same eleventh-to-thirteenth-century monastery as the fathers of the Near Caves, and the two synaxes are counterparts.
Many of the caves' burials survive, and the two commemorations, on August 28 and September 28, are the Church's way of counting a monastery rather than a list of individuals.
Troparion & Kontakion2 hymnsReadHide
Today, with the whole assembly of the Venerable Monks,
we honor the noetic sun and the radiant moon of the founding Fathers of the Caves;
for they illumine the heavens of the Church,
and enlighten those who toil in the darkness of the passions.
By their prayers, they grant help from Christ God in all sorrows, and they pray for the deliverance our souls.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
Chosen from all sorts of God-pleasers, O Venerable Monks of the Caves,
you have shone forth in these hills by your virtues.
The earth has not hidden your deeds, but Heaven was opened to you.
Therefore, we offer hymns of praise to God, Who glorified you.
Since you have boldness, make intercession by your prayers,
that we who honor you may be delivered from all misfortunes, since you are our intercessors before God.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).