Basil and Theodore

Our holy fathers among the saints Basil and Theodore of the Caves were hieromartyrs who pursued asceticism in the eleventh century in the Near Caves of Kiev. St. Theodore distributed his riches to the poor, went to the monastery and settled into the Varangian Cave, adjoining the Caves of St. Theodosios. He dwelt here many years in strict temperance. Their feast day is celebrated on August 11.

When the enemy aroused sorrow in him for giving away his possessions, St. Basil comforted him: "I implore you, brother Theodore, do not forget the reward. If you want to have possessions, take everything that is mine." St. Theodore repented and dearly loved St. Basil, with whom he lived in the cell.

Once, St. Basil was on an errand outside the monastery for three months. The devil, having assumed his form, appeared to St. Theodore and indicated that there was a treasure hidden somewhere in the cave by robbers. The monk still wanted to leave the monastery to buy possessions to live in the world. When St. Basil returned, the demonic illusion disappeared. From that time, St. Theodore started to be more attentive to himself. In order not to be distracted by idle thoughts during moments of inactivity, he set up a millstone, and by night he ground grain. Thus, by long and zealous ascetic action he freed himself from the passion of avarice.

A report reached Prince Mstislav Svyatopolkovich that St. Theodore had found much treasure in the cave. He summoned the monk to him and commanded him to show him the spot where the valuables were hidden. St. Theodore told the prince that indeed he had once seen gold and precious vessels in the cave, but fearing temptation, he and St. Basil had buried the treasure, and God took from him the memory of where it was hidden.

Not believing the saint, the prince gave orders to torture him to death. They beat St. Theodore so much that his hair-shirt was wet with blood, and then they hung him head-downwards, lighting a fire beneath him. In a drunken condition the prince commanded them to torture St. Basil also, and then to kill him with an arrow. Dying, the martyr Basil threw the arrow at the feet of Prince Mstislav and predicted that he himself would soon be mortally wounded by it. The prophecy was fulfilled on July 15, 1099, during an internecine war with David Igorevich. On the wall of the Vladimir fortress, Prince Mstislav was suddenly struck in the chest by an arrow through an opening in the timbers, and on the following night he died. Recognizing his own arrow, the prince said: "I die because of the monastic martyrs Basil and Theodore."

Sources

• Martyr Basil of the Kiev Near Caves (OCA)
• Martyr Theodore of the Kiev Near Caves (OCA)