Gregory, wonderworker of the Kiev Caves, venerable martyr (Near Caves)

Dates of commemoration

Jan 21
(Church calendar - Jan 08)
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)

Jul 28

(Church calendar - Jul 15) Synaxis of All Saints of Kiev

Oct 11

(Church calendar - Sep 28) Synaxis of the Saints of the Kievan Caves Monastery, venerated in the near caves of Venerable Anthony

Life

Saint Gregory was tonsured at the Kiev Caves monastery in the time of Saint Theodosius (May 3). The saint devoted much time to reading books, which were his sole possession. He had the ability to bring thieves to their senses. Several times robbers broke in on him in his cell or in the garden, but the saint reasoned with them, the thieves repented, and began to lead honest lives.

Once, when the monk went to the Dnieper River for water, some servants of Prince Rostislav caught sight of the Elder and rudely began making fun of him. The saint answered them, “Children, when you should be asking for everyone’s prayers, you are displeasing God. Weep, for disaster approaches. Repent and ask God to be merciful to you on the Day of Judgment. All you will find death in the water with your prince.” By orders of the enraged Prince Rostislav, the monk was bound hand and foot, and he was drowned in the Dnieper with a stone around his neck. Still, his prediction came true. Rostislav did not return from the campaign. In that same year of 1093 the twenty-year-old prince drowned in sight of his brother, Vladimir Monomakh, trying to save himself as he fled from the Polovetsians.

Several sources identify Saint Gregory with Saint Gregory, a composer of Canons in honor of the holy Prince Vladimir, Saint Theodosius, and the holy Martyrs Boris and Gleb. But Saint Gregory, compiler of canons, lived later and died in about the year 1120. Saint Gregory the Wonderworker died in 1093 and was buried in the Near Caves. His memory is celebrated also on September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.

Source:

https://oca.org/saints/lives/2017/01/08/100115-venerable-gregory-the-wonderworker-of-the-kiev-near-caves

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 Григория, Чудотворца Печерского, в Ближних пещерах почивающего, глас 3
Великих дарований приемниче и великих чудес силою Божиею творителю, пречудне отче Григорие, яко велие дерзновение имея ко Христу Богу, непрестанно о нас молися Ему, да грехов оставление подаст душам нашим.

Kontakion

Кондак преподобного Григория, Чудотворца Печерского, в Ближних пещерах почивающего, глас 7
Запрещая беззаконнующим беззаконновати, ввержен был еси теми в струи речныя, досточудне Григорие, идеже блаженную воспри­ем кончину. Ныне со Ангелы предстоя Престолу Владычню, молися о ду­шах наших.

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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