Saints
“Theodore and Vasily of the Kiev Caves”
Monks of the Caves · Martyrs for a treasure that was not theirs
Two monks of the Kiev Caves, one a wealthy man who had given everything away and then found buried treasure in his own cell and was tormented by it, the other the friend who talked him into burying it again. A prince heard the story, wanted the money, and had them both tortured to death in a single night when they would not say where it was.
His life
Theodore had come to the Caves monastery a rich man, had given his property away, and afterward was harassed by the thought that he had been rash and would be destitute in his old age. In digging in the cave that was his cell he uncovered a buried hoard of Varangian silver and gold, and the thought became unbearable.
Vasily, his friend and neighbor in the caves, argued him out of it. Theodore buried the treasure again and would not afterward say where, and by the account he was given peace about it and never troubled by the thought again.
The story got out. Prince Mstislav Svyatopolkovich had Theodore brought and questioned, and when he said he had genuinely forgotten the place, had him tortured. Vasily was brought and tortured with him for the same answer. In the night, in a rage and in drink, the prince shot Vasily with an arrow, and Vasily drew it out and said the prince would die by the same. Both monks were dead by morning.
The prince was killed by an arrow the following year at Vladimir. The two are buried in the Near Caves at Kiev, and the Church keeps their memory on the eleventh of August.
Holy Sts. Theodore and Vasily of the Kiev Caves, pray to God for us.