Spyridon of the Kiev Caves, prosphorabaker, venerables (Near Caves)
Dates of commemoration
(Church calendar - Feb 27) Synaxis of all Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves (movable feast on the 2nd Sunday of the Great Lent)
Life
Saints Spyridon and Nicodemus, the Prosphora-bakers of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves fulfilled their obedience of baking prosphora for thirty years. Saint Spyridon came to the monastery during the time of Igumen Pimen (1132-1141), when he was no longer a young man. The ascetic combined his work with unceasing prayer and the singing of Psalms. Even during his life Saint Spyridon was glorified by miracles. He was illiterate, but knew the entire Psalter by heart.
Once, his mantle caught fire from the oven. The fire was put out, but the mantle remained whole. Saint Nicodemus toiled together with Saint Spyridon and led a very strict life. Their relics are in the Kiev Caves of Saint Anthony. The fingers of Saint Spyridon’s right hand are positioned to make the Sign of the Cross with three fingers. They are also commemorated on September 28, and the second Sunday of Great Lent.
Source:
Holy relic type
unless specified otherwise below, "holy relic" means a fragment of a bone of the saint
Holy relic
Location of the holy relic in the Cathedral:
North kliros, reliquary #5
Troparion
Тропарь преподобных Спиридона и Никодима, просфорников Печерских, в Ближних пещерах
глас 4
Хлебы приносныя руками своими творя,/ псалмопение непрестанное усты своими/ яко жертву хвалы приношаше Господеви,/ со честным Никодимом, блаженне Спиридоне,/ с нимже молися Христу Богу о душах наших
Kontakion
Кондак преподобных Спиридона и Никодима, просфорников Печерских
глас 3
Да явиши разжженную твою ко Господу любовь,/ чудне Спиридоне,/ разжегшуюся зело пещь/ мантиею своею заграждавши/ и да покажеши источник вод дарований духа в тебе живущ,/ одеждею своею, нося воду,/ угашаеши пламень огненный,/ тем, яко имея дерзновение ко Господу,/ со блаженным Никодимом/ молися присно о нас, поющих тя.