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†Reverend Martyrs Basil and Theodore of Pechersk There was a monk Theodore, the reverent Polycarp writes about the Pechersk monastery. Having distributed all his property to the poor, he entered the monastery and, with the blessing of the abbot, settled in a Varangian cave adjacent to the caves of Theodosius 80. He spent many years here in strict abstinence. But, at the suggestion of the enemy of salvation, grief was born in him over the distributed property. He imagined that he would live a long time, become exhausted in body and would not be able to be content with the monastic food. Busy with these thoughts, abandoning hopes for God, he indulged in his sadness more and more, and was close to despair. He did not hide his grief from others, but spoke about it. One of the monks, Vasily, took part in it. “Please, brother Theodore! he said, don’t lose your reward. If you want property: take everything I have; just give your word before God that everything distributed by you will be my alms. And you will live with wealth without sorrow, God willing.” The fear of God awoke in Theodore's soul and he hurried to wash away his sin with tears of repentance; he became attached with heartfelt love to his brother, who enlightened him. But the passion of love of money had not yet completely extinguished in his heart. Once Brother Vasily left the monastery on business. The devil, appearing in the form of a departed brother, inspired Theodore with the idea of ​​asking God for acquisitions and brought his thoughts to the gold and expensive vessels hidden in the cave. Having found the treasure, Theodore wanted to leave the monastery so that, having bought the estate, he could live in peace. Vasily, three months later, returned and discovered the demonic deception. Theodore became more attentive to himself - and in order not to be carried away by harmful thoughts in idleness, he placed a millstone in his cave, took grain bread from the bins and ground it at night. He spent many years in such work, never ceasing to pray to God to deliver him from the thought of love of money, and finally he was so freed from this thought that he considered gold and silver to be worth nothing. Through long labors he acquired power over unclean spirits, so that they obeyed him. A close friendship united Theodore with Vasily. They made a covenant among themselves not to hide a single thought from each other, but to discuss and revise their thoughts together. The old Theodore moved to the old monastery, where he built himself a cell soon after it was burned by the Polovtsians, and Vasily began to live in his place in a cave. A rumor reached Mstislav, the son of Svyatopolk, that Theodore had found a lot of treasure in the cave. Calling Theodore, the prince asked him: did he really find the treasure? “It’s true, prince, I saw a treasure in the cave,” answered Theodore.” “And a lot of gold, silver, vessels? Who, you hear, started all this?” the prince asked hastily. The elder answered: “in the life of St. Anthony is told that there was luggage of the Varangians here, and also Latin vessels, which is why the cave is still called the Varangian cave. There is a lot of gold and silver there.” “Show me these treasures,” said the prince, I will share with you and you will be a friend to me and my father Svyatopolk (Svyatopolk was then in Turov). The elder answered: “God sees my heart, good prince: my beloved brother Vasily often told me not to destroy my soul with the charm of wealth and we buried the Latin goods in the ground. By His mercy, God took away my memory and now I don’t know where it is hidden.” Mstislav, not content with such an answer, ordered Theodore to be severely tortured; he was tortured to the point that his hair shirt was soaked in his blood; then they ordered him to be hanged headlong in heavy smoke and fire placed under him. The prince ordered to beat Vasily without mercy; being noisy from the wine and enraged, he took an arrow and shot it at Vasily. Both friends died the next night. After a little time, Mstislav himself was shot on the city wall, according to Vasily’s prophecy. He fought with David Igorevich and then recognized the arrow with which he shot Vasily: “I am dying,” he said, for the saints Vasily and Theodore.” So says the blessed one. Polycarp 81. According to the chronicle, the Pechersk Monastery was burned by the Polovtsians in 1096 82; and Theodore, already old, after that built a cell in the monastery and lived for a short time; book Mstislav, according to the chronicle, on July 15, 1099, on the wall of the Vladimir fortress, unexpectedly “was struck under the bosom by an arrow through a hole in the board and died the next night” 83. From this it is clear that Blessed. the death of St. Theodore and Vasily must be attributed to 1098 and, in accordance with the calendar, to August 11, 84. Relics of St. Theodora and Vasily were buried in the Varangian cave in which they labored, and then they were transferred to the Anthony Cave, where they now rest 85. The blocked entrance to the Varangian cave is now visible near the gate of Lavrentiya Ave. A recent and repeated inspection of this cave showed that there were quite a few hermit cells with seats in it. The cells and seats made up of multi-colored sands appear as if covered with striped material. So, where previously the vagabonds who were engaged in robbery hid, then the servants of God labored and sanctified the den of robbers with their prayers and exploits 86 . History of St. Theodore and Basil presents to us in experience the thoughts of St. Scripture: “those who want to get rich fall into temptations and snares and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which plunge people into disaster and destruction” (1 Tim. 6:9). “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:24). “A covetous person is an idolater” (Eph. 5:5). Advise the rich in this age not to think highly of themselves and to trust not in uncertain wealth, but in the living God; - so that they do good, be enriched by good deeds, be generous and sociable (Tim. 6:17, 18). A deacon in the city of Katana carried the gospel with him and, reading to the people, taught them faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. During the persecution of Diocletianovo, he was captured due to the behavior of the mayor, and, as unshakable in his confession, he was subjected to torture, planed with iron combs and beaten with iron hammers. Then the judge ordered the book of the gospel to be hung around the martyr’s neck, taken to prison and not given him either bread or water. After seven days he called him and said: “At least now bow to the gods!” But the martyr answered: “Who would want to leave the light and walk in darkness?” He was condemned to death, before execution he lectured the people and was beheaded (304 years). Holy Martyr Sosanna, Gavinius the Presbyter, her father, Gaius the Pope and others with them They showed compassion in Rome in 296. Pope Gaius (Caius), Gavinius (Gabinius) and Sosanna were relatives of the emperor. Diocletian, who learned that they were Christians and were spreading this faith, ordered them and the two noble dignitaries they had converted to be put to death. Their relics rest in Rome. The Varangian caves go south from the southwestern corner of Theodosius Cave. See pr. 83. and August. 28. Rep. message to Akindinos. Collection l. 1, 155. 7. 17. Artsybashev 1, 55. RKP. Saints: “Reverend Martyrs Basil the Priest and Theodore suffered in the year 6610 of August on the 11th day.” There is an error in the description about the year of death. Kyiv. laurel. p. 107. and in Vershinsky’s monthly book. It could not have happened that Vasily, after Theodore, lived in a Varangian cave for 29 years, as evidenced by the inventory of the Lavra. Pech. Patericon L. 159. 160. Under Kalnofoysky (1632) St. The sufferers were already resting in Anthony’s Cave. The Varangian cave was severely damaged by the earthquake of 1614. And almost immediately after that, St. the relics were transferred from it to Anthony's Cave. Kalnofoisky: “The cave of the Varangians is otherwise called the robber’s cave, because the robbers buried their loot here.” Teraturg. r. s. m. Sylvester, conveying Vasily’s words about the cave and the treasure, says: “they (the Varangians) dug a cave for the first time.” Zywoty ss. Oycow r. 129. So this is the meaning of the Varangians! Varangian work on the appearance of the cave. total ist. 3, 201. 202. Sementovsky Kyiv. caves opened in May 1853 North. bee 1853 No. 216.