As we celebrate the feast of St Theodosius of the Kiev Caves, the founder of cenobitic monasticism in Rus’, we commend his abbot-successor, Metropolitan Pavel, the Brotherhood, and the faithful worshippers, pilgrims and servitors of the Caves to his intercessions.
We also ask him to pray for our community – especially for our Ukrainian faithful, so far from home.
Canon I of the venerable one, Tone VIII
Ode I, Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Having attained the God-pleasing struggle, O father Theodosius, thou wast shone to be a God-seer; wherefore, pray thou unto God Whom thou didst please, that He drive away the darkness of mine ignorance and inspire me with blessed discourse, that I may hymn thee.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
From thy mother’s womb thou didst cleave unto God, O venerable one, like the all-wise Paul and the Prophet Jeremiah of old; wherefore, divine grace through the lips of the servant of God gave thee thy name, O Theodosius.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Having obeyed the commandments of the Saviour from thy youth, O wise one, and considered this life to be as nought, desiring to bear the Cross on thy shoulders thou didst spurn all earthly things, looking to the things of heaven, O Theodosius.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
The Word of God Who became incarnate of thine all-pure womb, O all-holy Virgin, hath shone upon all the love of divine knowledge, and, having ascended into the heavens, He hath vouchsafed celebration unto the choir of men and angels.
Canon II of the venerable one, Tone VI
Irmos: Traversing the deep on foot, as though it were dry land, and seeing the tyrant Pharaoh drowned, Israel cried aloud: Let us chant unto God a hymn of victory!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Illumined by the all-radiant beams of God, O father Theodosius, enlighten my mind by thy supplications, that I may hymn thy divine memory with splendour.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
From thy youth thou didst offer thyself to the one God, from Whom thou didst receive the abundant grace of miracles; wherefore, thou becamest a source of incorruption for thy flock.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou wast shone forth unto us as a new Abraham, offering sacrifice unto God—the Lamb Who truly taketh away the sins of the whole world,—making the bread [for the liturgy] with thine own pure hands.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Word of God Who existed before the morning-star hath revealed Himself to us as man, incarnate for our sake of the all-pure Virgin; and having issued forth from her, He preserved her free of harm.
Ode III, Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Thy divine and blessed soul enriched with the spiritual gifts of incorruption, O holy one, thou didst desire to behold the tomb of the Lord; yet thou wast chosen from on high by the dispensation of God.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Desiring to be a perfect, true and blameless sacrifice of the Lamb Who taketh away the sin of the whole world by His all-pure blood, O blessed one, thou didst offer unto Him the unbloody sacrifice.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Becoming an acquirer of rules from the height of thy youth and a ruler over thy mind, O father, fleeing the abyss of the world thou didst receive instruction from the divine Spirit.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Rejoice, O thou who alone gavest birth to the Lord of all! Rejoice, thou who hast proclaimed joy unto men! Rejoice, O tabernacle and unquarried mountain, thou confirmation of the faithful, O only all-hymned one!
Irmos: There is none as holy as Thee, O Lord my God, Who hast uplifted the horn of Thy faithful and established us on the rock of the confession of Thee, O Good One.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Theodosius heard the voice of the Gospel and hastened to the church; and desiring to bear the Cross of the Lord upon his shoulder, forsaking all passionate attachment to the world, he followed after Him.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
When thy mother, who gave thee birth, testing thee, commanded thee to remove thy garment, she beheld a horrible sight: thy sides wet with blood from the iron chains thou didst wear.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Greatly desiring to behold the tomb of the Lord, O blessed Theodosius, yet held back by the dispensation of God, thou becamest the companion of the venerable Anthony.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In manner past understanding thou alone from among all ages didst conceive God, the Creator and Fashioner, O thou who alone gavest birth unto the Word of God
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional hymn, Tone IV: In manner past the understanding of man, O venerable one, on earth thou wast shown to be a sacred garden of God set in the midst of the house of the Lord, giving the fruit of thy pangs unto thy disciples; for from thy mouth thou didst produce the grace of the Spirit, having become an example of struggles and a model for those who love the Lord. Him do thou never fail to entreat, that those who hymn thee be saved.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Repeat the hymn.
Ode IV, Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
The grace of God increased within thee, O father, when thou didst behold her who gave thee birth weeping and lamenting exceedingly, yet thou, standing before her as she shed streams of tears, didst remain a pillar unshaken and unmoved.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
The most wicked enemy strove, through cruel men, to drag thee away from the nest all-adorned which thou didst desire, O Theodosius; yet thou didst account him as nought, driving away his hordes by thy supplications, and chanting: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Refreshed by the rain of the Spirit and watered by the Wellspring of life, thou didst produce divine grain through the tongue of Anthony thy guide; and thou feedest multitudes, having truly become like the inexhaustible granary of Joseph.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Who is able to describe the depths of thy wonders as is meet, O pure one? For through thee the whole world, offering thee praise, findeth mercy and is delivered from grievous misfortunes and divers evils, from enemies and perils.
Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, the honoured Church doth sing, crying out in godly manner with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
When thy mother learned that thou wast living in a cave with the blessed Anthony, thou didst comfort her when she came to thee, weeping, and didst exhort her to flee the evil of the world.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Thou wast truly a blameless priest of God, O sacred father, offering up the unbloody sacrifice, and chanting unto the Lord with a pure heart, ever keeping festival.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Ask for us deliverance from sins, O servant of God and intercessor, we, thy flock, cry out to thee, and from the temptations of the enemy preserve us who hymn thee.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Word of God, Who shone forth from the Father, sanctified thine all-pure womb, and in His surpassing goodness He hath delivered the human race from the ancient curse.
Ode V, Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Thy correction shone forth in struggles of virtue, for that which from of old was a poor hovel thou didst render spacious, leading many ascetics unto God, Who giveth them every abundance through thy supplications.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
By the radiant beams of thy struggles was a multitude of demons driven from thy dwelling-place; for the grace of the Spirit of the Creator of all accompanied thee and revealed thee as glorious, O Theodosius.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
In the midst of the church thou didst hymn the compassionate Saviour; wherefore, He sent upon thee His abundant compassions, alleviating the grief of want and pouring forth ever-flowing gifts upon thy flock.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Thou wast higher than the hosts on high, O thou who art full of the grace of God, having conceived the Word Who created all things by His word, and given birth to Him Who was ineffably begotten of the Father before time began.
Irmos: With Thy divine light illumine the souls of those who with love rise at dawn unto Thee, O Good One, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who calleth all forth from the darkness of sin.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Thou wast a pure basin adorned with the flowers of the virtues, O father Theodosius, from whence thou pourest forth upon thy flock a fountain of teaching sweeter than honey and the honey-comb.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
With virtuous struggles thou didst mortify carnal nature, O wise father Theodosius; wherefore, Christ showed thee forth as a shepherd in the place which He chose to be a pasture for the pure Virgin.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou wast an instructor of monks and a shepherd of sheep tended in the pasture of the Mother of God; wherefore, God giveth thee twofold joy, O Theodosius, through the supplications of the pure Mother of God.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He Who dwelleth in the heavens found thee to be a sacred abode, and of His own will made His dwelling within thy womb; wherefore, standing in thy house, with cries of thanksgiving we ever hymn thine all-pure birth-giving.
Ode VI, Irmos: I pour forth my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him do I declare my grief; for my soul is full of evil and my life hath drawn nigh unto hell, and like Jonah I pray: Lead me up from corruption, O God!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Through prayers, the keeping of vigils and the chanting of psalms thou didst continually make thy soul a divine garden of paradise, manifestly causing the life-bearing and precious Tree of the Saviour and Lord to grow therein.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
It was thy will to acquire mystic humility, emulating the poverty of the Master, O blessed one; and treading the path of thine own will, at the command of a slothful servant thou didst deign to bear water up to the holy place, where those who met thee recognised thee and paid thee homage.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Emulating Him Who washed the feet of His disciples, O divinely wise one, thou didst consent to draw water and bear it upon thy shoulders, and hewing and carrying wood with thine own hands, thou didst show thyself forth as a guide in labours for monks.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Through thee, O Theotokos, was slain the most crafty foe who brought destruction upon all creation through corruption, and through thee have the dead been led up to life again; for thou didst truly give birth to the Lord, the Life of all.
Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Having truly built a church for the Mother of God, therein thou hast assembled a choir of a multitude of monastics, who hymn thine honoured memory with love.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Upon all who have recourse to thy protection with faith thou pourest forth a wellspring of healings, O venerable one: thou dost cause holiness to gush forth, and illuminest men’s hearts, dispelling the deception of the demons.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Lift up thy hands unto Christ God, O venerable father, and by thy supplications preserve thy flock which thou didst splendidly gather together in the Spirit, and who hymn thy memory.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, O all-hymned one who gavest birth to the all-hymned God of all! O pure one, show those who hymn thee to be partakers of the light, and deliver them from everlasting fire.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone III, Spec. Mel. “Today the Virgin…”: We honour today the blessed Theodosius, the star of Rus’, who shone forth from the East and arrived in the West; for he hath enriched this whole land and all of us with miracles and goodness by the implementation and grace of the monastic rule.
Ikos: Who can describe thy struggles, O father? Who can reckon the multitudes of thy labours and wondrous miracles? For while yet in the flesh thou didst behold one of the incorporeal beings conversing with thee in fleshly form and offering thee a gift: gold sent by God. Thou wast shown to surpass men in humility and a meek demeanour, and to be full of spiritual wisdom. Wherefore, receiving the Spirit within thee, thou wast seen to be in the light, shining like the sun. With the brilliance of thy monastic rule, O venerable and godly Theodosius, enlighten me who hymn thee.
Ode VII, Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the youths who had come forth from Judæa trod down the flame of the furnace with their faith in the Trinity, chanting: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Everyone who fleeth with faith to thy supplications, O blessed one, is never put to shame; but, receiving the grace of his petition, O father, he returneth and danceth, singing: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Thou didst show thyself to be a father and helper of orphans, the hope of widows, and the uplifting of all the sick, O father; wherefore, we chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Thou wast the adornment of monastics and a path of salvation for men; for, enriching all by thy discourses on the divine mysteries, thou didst teach them to say: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
O Christ, for our salvation Thou didst appear incarnate of the Virgin’s womb; wherefore, knowing Thy Mother to be the Theotokos, we chant with thanksgiving: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Irmos: The Angel caused the furnace to pour forth dew upon the pious youths, and the command of God, which consumed the Chaldæans, prevailed upon the tyrant to cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
The grace of God increased within thee, O father, overshadowing thee with the Spirit and enlightening thy heart; and thereby thou didst teach men to chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Thy discourse explaining the dispensation of the mysteries hath gone forth into all lands, unto those who ever chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The multifarious grace of the Spirit rested on thee, O father, and showed forth all-glorious miracles unto those who chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Fleeing beneath thy protection, O Mistress, we are delivered from evils; for having thee as our hope, all of us, the faithful, pray: Disdain not thy servants, O Virgin Theotokos.
Ode VIII, Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Thou wast shown to be like a prophet of God gazing into the future, O Theodosius; for, inspired by the Spirit, thou didst command him who bore the Gospel scripture unto thee to bear it away, and he cried aloud unto thee, confessing with a pure mind the sacrifice to the all-pure Theotokos.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
The right-believing prince who sustained the whole land hastened to thy dwelling-place, like a deer to a spring of water, that he might receive the ever-flowing sustenance of incorruption; wherefore, desiring to dine with him, O blessed one, thou didst command thy vessel to fill completely with honey when thy patron cried out at thy lack.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
The angelic hosts hymned thy struggles, O Theodosius, and the choir of the venerable praised thy way of life, O thou splendid adornment and joy of monks; wherefore, rejoicing now therewith, thou art filled with gladness, chanting melodiously: Ye children, bless! Ye priests, hymn! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Thee do I set forth as the invincible protector and ally of my life, O all-pure Theotokos: be thou for me an aid against misfortunes and tribulations, delivering thine unworthy servant, who chant with love: Ye children, bless! Ye priests, hymn! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Irmos: From the flame didst Thou pour forth dew upon the venerable ones, and didst consume the sacrifice of the righteous one with water; for Thou, O Christ, dost do all things soever Thou desirest. Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages!
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
The choir of thy disciples, standing round about thy shrine with their abbot, hymneth Christ, having received thy labours which are worthy of God, Whom we exalt supremely forever.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Rejoicing, thou didst follow Christ God the Crucified, mortifying thy body with manifold labours and pangs; and thou didst acquire true faith and love, having rejected the world and come to love Christ alone.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The shrine of thy relics, O father Theodosius, poureth forth health with divine power and healeth sufferings of soul and flesh; wherefore, we hymn thy memory as is meet.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We now exclaim to thee the cry of Gabriel: Rejoice, O all-blessed Mistress full of the grace of God, for whose sake we have been delivered from the ancient curse; for thou art the mediator of the salvation of all.
Ode IX, Irmos: Every ear trembleth to hear of the ineffable condescension of God, for the Most High willingly came down even to the flesh, becoming man through the Virgin’s womb. Wherefore we, the faithful, magnify the all-pure Theotokos.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Today thy memorial hath shone forth upon us like the sun, O venerable one, and we rejoice, kissing thy shrine, and, standing round about it as it were a divine ark, with the ranks of heaven we hymn thy repose with faith, O Theodosius.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Rejoice, O land of Rus’, having received from the Lord a treasure which cannot be taken away: Theodosius, the great helper blessed of God, the fervent aid. And do thou, O first among the cities of Rus’, rejoice with the choir of fasters.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
We have gathered now in festival on the day of thy memorial, to hymn the Lord Who assigned thee the goodly struggles which thou endured; wherefore, we beseech thee, O holy and wise one, that thy flock, which thou didst acquire by thy supplications, may be delivered from the temptations of the enemy.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Save me, O Saviour Who alone art our Deliverer, Who accepted the fervent repentance of the harlot and the prodigal and the sighing of the publican. O Christ, be Thou merciful unto me, a prodigal, through the supplications of thy favoured one, driving away the multitude of my sins.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
O Saviour Who wast born, and Who preserved her who gave Thee birth without corruption, even after birth-giving: Take pity on me when Thou shalt sit to judge my works, overlooking my sins and iniquities, in that Thou art sinless and merciful, and lovest mankind.
Irmos: It is not possible for men to behold God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O most pure one, hath the Word appeared incarnate unto men; and magnifying Him with the armies of heaven, we call thee blessed.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
O father, through faith thou hast united thy children. As a worthy shepherd of shepherds, O venerable one, vouchsafe to enlighten them with the virtues, and pray thou that we be granted remission of sins and correction of life.
Venerable Father, Theodosius, pray to God for us.
Living a life equal to that of the holy fathers, thou wast a servant of the all-pure Virgin, O blessed one, and an excellent pastor of monks, a true pillar of the Orthodox Faith, the hope of the faithful and the trust of those who chant in the house of the Mother of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Sanctified by the power of the Almighty, thou didst overcome the snares of the enemy, didst drive away their hordes and grant health to the sick; wherefore, rejoicing, we ever honour thy memory.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Ineffably conceiving Him Who shone forth from the Father without mother, thou gavest birth to Him, O Mother of God, pure and all-hymned Virgin. Entreat thy Son and our God, O all-holy one, in behalf of us, thy servants.
Troparion, Tone VIII: Exalted in virtue, having loved the monastic life from childhood, and valiantly attained thy desire, thou didst dwell within a cave; and having adorned thy life with asceticism and splendour, like one of the incorporeal beings thou didst abide in prayer, shining like a radiant beacon in the land of Rus’. O father Theodosius, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.