Theophilus of the Kiev Caves, archbishop of Novgorod, holy hierarch, venerable (Far Caves)

Dates of commemoration

Mar 12

(Church calendar - Feb 27) Synaxis of all Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves (movable feast on the 2nd Sunday of the Great Lent)

Jun 25

(Church calendar - Jun 12) Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs (movable feast on the 3rd Sunday of Pentecost)

Jul 28
(Church calendar - Jul 15) Synaxis of all Saints of Kiev
Sep 10
(Church calendar - Aug 28) Synaxis of the Saints of the Kiev Caves whose relics repose in the Far Cave of Venerable Theodosius
Nov 08
(Church calendar - Oct 26)

Life

Saint Theophilus of the Kiev Caves, Far Caves and Archbishop of Novgorod, was chosen by lot after the death of the holy hierarch Jonah (November 5). He was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop of Novgorod on December 15, 1472 at Moscow. Until his elevation, he had pursued asceticism in the Otensk monastery.

A harsh destiny was allotted the saint in the guidance of the Novgorod flock. The mayor Martha Boretskaya and her adherents stirred up and agitated the people against the Great Prince of Moscow, Ivan III. The monk Pimen, a Boretskaya partisan, roused enmity against the archbishop in the flock. Some of the Novgorod populace were inclined to go over to the side of Lithuania. Unfaithful to the Moscow principality, they were prepared to fall into apostasy.

Saint Theophilus stopped the rebellious Novgorodians saying, “Do not betray Orthodoxy nor become a flock of apostates. I’ll go back to my humble cell, from which you drew me out to the shame of rebellion.” This letter of disavowal of the saint, written in 1479, is preserved. The short-sighted people did not heed the words of the pastor, and a fratricidal war broke out between Moscow and Novgorod. The defeated Novgorodians were compelled to beg for mercy, and many of them owed their life to the intercession of the saint. In 1480, Saint Theophilus was sent by Ivan III to prison in the Moscow Chudov monastery and “he sat there a full three years, and died there.”

By tradition, when Saint Theophilus lay sick at the Chudov monastery, Saint Niphon of Novgorod (April 8), who is buried in the Kiev Caves of Saint Anthony, appeared to him in a dream. The saint reminded him of his promise to venerate the Kievan wonderworkers. It is said that the holy archbishop went to Kiev, and just as he approached the Dniepr his sickness increased. He received a revelation that although he would not reach the Caves alive, his body would rest in them. This was fulfilled.

His memory is celebrated also with the Synaxis of the Saints of the Kiev Far Caves on August 28, and on the Second Sunday of the Great Fast, with the Synaxis of the Kiev Caves Fathers.

Source:

https://oca.org/saints/lives/2017/10/26/103061-st-theophilus-of-the-kiev-caves-and-bishop-of-novgorod

Holy relic type

unless specified otherwise below, "holy relic" means a fragment of a bone of the saint

1. Holy relic
2. Holy relic

Location of the holy relic in the Cathedral:

1. North kliros, reliquary #5
2. Relics cabinet in the Altar sacristy, reliquary #9

Icon

Troparion

Тропарь преподобного Феофила Печерского, архиепископа Новгородского, в Дальних пещерах
глас 4
Правило веры, и образ кротости,/ и воздержания известный учитель Христову стаду воистину был еси,/ уча е выну смирению,/ не мудрствовати еже высокая,/ сего ради стяжал, яже желаше,/ отче святителю Феофиле,/ моли Христа Бога спастися душам нашим.

Kontakion

Кондак преподобного Феофила Печерского, архиепископа Новгородского,
глас 4
Яко воистинну по имени своему ты,/ Боголюбезне святителю Феофиле и преподобне, соблюдши,/ явися тебе Христос Спас,/ обещая ти Живот и Царствие Свое,/ в немже, днесь ликуя, не забуди нас, рабов твоих.

Address of our Cathedral

  • 4001 17th St. N.W.,
  • Washington, D.C., 20011

Phone  (202) 726-3000

Email        webmaster@stjohndc.org

 

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