Житие преподобного Тита, пресвитера Печерского

How “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness” (Rom. 1:18) and how the “peace of God” descends, surpassing the mind (Phil. 4:7), protecting the body and soul of the person striving for it, we see all this in the life of blessed Titus. He was a monk of the Pechersk Monastery in 1660, with the venerable rank of presbyter. The Monk Titus was instructed in deeds worthy of eternal bliss by the following circumstance: he had a brother not in the flesh, but in the spirit, a monk of the same monastery named Evagrius, a deacon by rank. Great and unfeigned love united the two monks, so that everyone marveled at their unanimity and mutual love. But the devil, who hates all good things, is accustomed to sow tares among the wheat (Matthew 5:22), and sowed enmity between them. He so darkened their hearts with anger and hatred that they could not even look each other in the face and therefore tried in every possible way to avoid each other. When one walked into church with a censer, then the other ran away from the censing; if one did not leave, then the other passed by him without showing a sign. They remained in such sinful darkness for a long time, so that, by the devil’s inspiration, they even dared to offer Divine gifts and partake of them, without reconciling with each other, without asking each other for forgiveness. The brethren asked them many times to reconcile, but they did not want to hear. One day, by God’s providence, the Monk Titus happened to fall so seriously ill that he no longer thought of staying alive. Then he began to weep bitterly about his sin and humbly sent to Deacon Evagrius to tell him: “Forgive me, brother, for the sake of the Lord, because I offended you with my anger.” But he not only did not forgive Titus, but began to revile him even more and even curse him. However, the brethren, seeing that Titus was already dying, by force brought Evagrius to him so that he could be reconciled with his brother. Seeing him, the sick man rose up and fell at the feet of Evagrius, saying with tears: - Forgive me, father, and bless me! But the merciless and inhuman Evagrius turned away from his brother and said words full of hatred in front of everyone: – I never want to reconcile with him: neither in this century, nor in the future! Having said this, he broke free from the hands of the brothers and fell. The monks wanted to raise him and found him dead. They could neither fold his hands, nor shut his lips, nor close his eyes - as if he had died a long time ago. At this time, blessed Titus stood up completely healthy, as if he had never been sick. Everyone was horrified to see the sudden death of one and the quick healing of the other. They began to ask the blessed presbyter Titus, what does this mean? Blessed Titus told them what was revealed to him about this from above: “During my illness,” this is how blessed Titus began his story, “I, still overcome with anger, saw how the Angels retreated from me. They wept over the destruction of my soul, and the demons rejoiced that I was angry with my brother. That is why I began to ask you to go and ask my brother for my forgiveness. When you brought him to me, and I bowed to him, and he turned away from me, I saw one merciless Angel with a flaming spear, with which he struck the one who had not forgiven me, and he fell dead. The same Angel gave me his hand, raised me, and now I have recovered. Frightened by the story, the monks cried a lot about the deceased Evagrius. They buried him, but could not fold his hands or close his eyes and lips. They themselves began to especially guard against anger, forgiving each other every offensive word, remembering the words of the Lord: “Whoever is angry with his brother without cause is subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:22). Also, Saint Ephraim the Syrian said: “If anyone happens to die in enmity, then an inexorable judgment awaits him.” And it was possible to say then about the admonished brethren: “Great is the peace of those who love Your law” (Ps. 119:165). But especially Presbyter Titus himself, seeing how for reconciliation with his brother he received reconciliation with God and was delivered from death not only physical, but also spiritual, from that time on he did not even think of being angry with anyone, but, throwing away anger, acquired constant love for the brethren, which, like the root of the world, is a union of perfection, it comes from “a pure heart and a good conscience and an unfeigned faith” (1 Tim. 1:5 ), she is “long-suffering, merciful, love does not envy” (1 Cor. 13:4) contains all the virtues and especially: fasting, chastity, constant prayer. From that time on, the blessed one always had in his heart the words of Scripture: “Be prudent and watchful in prayer. Above all, have fervent love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:7–8). While offering a bloodless sacrifice, Presbyter Titus also fulfilled the following Gospel word: “to love your neighbor as yourself is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33). He acquired such an imperturbable peace for himself that, burning with a feeling of perfect love, he could not, while grieving, say: “There is no place in my flesh for Thy wrath; there is no peace in my bones because of my sins” (Ps. 37:4). The perfect peace of the soul of this faster was such that the saying of the Apostle was truly fulfilled in him: “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). Therefore, in Heaven, blessed Titus was honored to receive peace, striving for which, after many labors and exploits, he went to the Lord. His holy body rests in one of the Pechersk caves, full of saints, like the deepest heaven, but in spirit he is present in Heaven, where he was lifted up by the hands of the Angels who appeared to him. They could only say about this former sinner, then a worthy repentant righteous man, only what Saint Paul said about the Apostle Titus: “God, who comforts the humble, comforted us with the arrival of Titus” (2 Cor. 7:6). We, also rejoicing, can say in response to these heavenly inhabitants from the same Scripture: we were comforted by seeing your consolation, and we especially rejoiced at the joy of Titus, who rested among you. Through the holy prayers of St. Titus, may we also, having put aside all anger, receive forgiveness of sins and receive temporary and eternal rest from Christ Jesus our Lord, Who is “the God of love and peace” (2 Cor. 13:11). To Him be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever 1661. Amen. Of course, the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery, founded by the Venerable Anthony in 1073) and Theodosius The Monk Titus lived in the 12th century. You might be interested in: