Saint Chariton the Confessor was born at Iconium in the province of Lycaonia, and suffered there during a persecution against Christians in the reign of Emperor Aurelian (270-275). The example of the holy Protomartyr Thekla (September 24), who was also a native of his city, encouraged him to confess Christ, since he had a great devotion to her.
St Chariton bravely denounced the pagan gods and staunchly confessed faith in the one True God, Christ the Savior. The holy Confessor underwent fierce tortures but, by God's Providence, he survived. The persecution ended after Aurelian's death in 275. St Chariton was among the many Christians who were released from prison, and he resolved to dedicate his entire life to the service of the Lord. Although he escaped death, he grieved because he had not received the crown of martyrdom.
After arriving at Jerusalem on a pilgrimage to the holy places, he fell into the hands of thieves. They tied him up and threw him in a cave, intending to kill him later. After they left to find people to rob, the saint prayed fervently to God expecting to be put to death. He did not ask God to deliver him, but instead he entreated Him to do with him as He wished.
At this time a snake crawled into the cave and began to drink wine from a vessel setting there. Later it vomited forth its deadly venom, poisoning the wine. When they returned to the cave, the evil men drank the poisoned wine and they all perished. Thus, their wicked lives came to a fitting end. St Chariton gave thanks to God, and then he gave away the gold which the malefactors had stolen, distributing it to the poor, to churches, and to monasteries. He began his ascetic struggles in the place of his miraculous rescue, and there he built a church. In time a monastery was established: the renowned Pharan Lavra in Palestine. St Chariton's fame drew many disciples to him. He governed them with paternal affection, and he elevated them to the highest degrees of virtue.
St Chariton compiled a strict Rule for his monastery. Yearning for solitude, the monk withdrew farther into the desert in order to avoid the praise of men, but he never rejected anyone who sought his spiritual guidance. He founded two more monasteries: the Jericho (called the Monastery of St Chariton) and the Souka, which was called “the old Lavra.” He also brought many Jews and pagans to the Faith.
At the end of his life, St Chariton struggled in a cave atop a hill near the Souka monastery, but he did not cease to provide guidance for all three of the monasteries which he founded. He fell asleep in the Lord peacefully and at an advanced age on September 28, 350.
According to Tradition, St Chariton compiled the Office of the Monastic Tonsure. St Chariton was buried at the Pharan monastery, in accordance with his last wishes. His grace-filled relics were enshrined in the church that had been built on the site of the robbers' cave.
Lives of the Saints
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
All troparia and kontakia · All lives of saints
Venerable Chariton the Confessor the Abbot of Palestine
Saint Chariton the Confessor was born at Iconium in the province of Lycaonia, and suffered there during a persecution against Christians in the reign of Emperor Aurelian (270-275). The example of the holy Protomartyr Thekla (September 24), who was also a native of his city, encouraged him…
Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Near Caves
The Synaxis of Monastic Fathers who are venerated in the Near Caves of St Anthony, is now celebrated on September 28. This general commemoration was originally on the first Saturday after the Leave-taking of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (i.e. after September 21). The general…
Venerable Chariton of Syanzhemsk, Vologda
Saint Euthymius and his disciple St Chariton lived at the River Syanzhema during the close of the fifteenth and the beginning of the sixteenth centuries. St Euthymius came to the Spasokamensk monastery from the outskirts of Volokolamsk. For a long time he continued as a novice at the monastery, but…
Venerable Herodion the Abbot of Iloezersk
Saint Herodion of Elias Lake and Novgorod, was a disciple of St Cornelius of Komel (May 19, 1537). After the death of his mentor, he settled at Elias Lake, 20 kilometers from White Lake, and there on a peninsula he built himself a cell and established a church in honor of the Nativity of the Most…
Prophet Baruch
The Holy Prophet Baruch was an inseparable companion, disciple, friend and scribe of the great Prophet Jeremiah (May 1). He wrote an entire scroll of his prophetic sayings and read them to the people in the Temple of Jerusalem. Together with his teacher, St Baruch grievously lamented the…
Martyr Alexander and 30 others in Pisidia and Phrygia
The Holy Martyrs Alexander, Alpheius, Zosimus, Mark the Shepherd, Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and others suffered for confessing the Christian Faith in various places of Asia Minor during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). St Mark, a shepherd, was arrested for his open confession of the Christian…
Martyr Alpheius and 30 others in Pisidia and Phrygia
The Holy Martyrs Alexander, Alpheius, Zosimus, Mark the Shepherd, Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and others suffered for confessing the Christian Faith in various places of Asia Minor during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). The brothers Sts Alexander, Alpheius and Zosimus were blacksmiths from the…
Martyr Zosimus and 30 Others in Pisidia and Phrygia
The Holy Martyrs Alexander, Alpheius, Zosimus, Mark the Shepherd, Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and others suffered for confessing the Christian Faith in various places of Asia Minor during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Sts Alexander, Alpheius and Zosimus were brothers who were blacksmiths from the…
Martyr Mark and 30 Others in Pisidia and Phrygia
The Holy Martyrs Alexander, Alpheius, Zosimus, Mark the Shepherd, Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and others suffered for confessing the Christian Faith in various places of Asia Minor during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). St Mark, a shepherd, was arrested for his open confession of the Christian…
Martyr Nikon and 30 others in Pisidia and Phrygia
The Holy Martyrs Alexander, Alpheius, Zosimus, Mark the Shepherd, Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and others suffered for confessing the Christian Faith in various places of Asia Minor during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Saints Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and other young men and women saw all the idols…
Martyr Neon and 30 others in Pisidia and Phrygia
The Holy Martyrs Alexander, Alpheius, Zosimus, Mark the Shepherd, Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and others suffered for confessing the Christian Faith in various places of Asia Minor during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Saints Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and other young men and women saw all the idols…
Martyr Heliodorus and 30 others in Pisidia and Phrygia
The Holy Martyrs Alexander, Alpheius, Zosimus, Mark the Shepherd, Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and others suffered for confessing the Christian Faith in various places of Asia Minor during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Saints Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and other young men and women saw all the idols…
30 Martyrs in Pisidia and Phrygia
The Holy Martyrs Alexander, Alpheius, Zosimus, Mark the Shepherd, Nikon, Neon, Heliodorus and others suffered for confessing the Christian Faith in various places of Asia Minor during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). St Mark, a shepherd, was arrested for his open confession of the Christian…
Martyr Wenceslaus the Prince of the Czechs
The Holy Prince Wenceslaus (Vyacheslav) of the Czechs was a grandson of the holy Martyr and Princess Ludmilla (September 16), and he was raised by her in deep piety. He began to rule at age eighteen after the death of his father Prince Bratislav (+ 920). In spite of his youthful age, he ruled…
Venerable Schemamonk Cyril the Father of the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh
Saint Cyril and his wife Maria were the parents of St Sergius of Radonezh (September 25). They belonged to the nobility, but more importantly, they were pious and faithful Christians who were adorned with every virtue. When the child in Maria’s womb cried out three times in church during…
Venerable Schema-nun Maria the Mother of the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh
Saint Maria and her husband Cyril were the parents of St Sergius of Radonezh (September 25). They belonged to the nobility, but more importantly, they were pious and faithful Christians who were adorned with every virtue. When the child in her womb cried out three times in church during Liturgy,…
Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Near Caves
No information available at this time.
Venerable Prochorus the Wonderworker
Saint Prochorus of the Caves was a native of Smolensk, and entered the Kiev Caves monastery under the igumen John (1089-1103). He was a great ascetic of strict temperance. In place of bread he ate pigweed (or orach), and so he was called “pigweed-eater.” Every summer, he gathered…
St John the Faster
No information available at this time.
Blessed Virgin Princess Juliana of Olshansk
Uncovering of the Relics of Righteous Virgin Juliana, Princess of Olshansk: St Juliana lived during the first quarter of the sixteenth century. Her father, Prince Yurii Dubrovitsky-Olshansky, was one of the benefactors of the Kiev Caves Lavra. The righteous maiden died at the age of sixteen. Her…
Venerable Martyr Basil of the Kiev Near Caves
The Hieromartyrs Theodore and Basil of the Caves pursued asceticism in the eleventh century in the Near Caves of Kiev. St Theodore distributed his riches to the poor, went to the monastery and settled into the Varangian Cave, adjoining the Caves of St Theodosius. He dwelt here many years in strict…
Venerable Martyr Theodore of the Kiev Near Caves
The Hieromartyrs Theodore and Basil of the Caves pursued asceticism in the eleventh century in the Near Caves of Kiev. St Theodore distributed his riches to the poor, went to the monastery and settled into the Varangian Cave, adjoining the Caves of St Theodosius. He dwelt here many years in strict…
Archimandrite Polycarp of the Caves
No information available at this time.
Igumen Barlaam of the Caves
Saint Barlaam, Igumen of the Kiev Caves, lived during the eleventh century at Kiev, and was the son of an illustrious noble. From the time of his youth, he yearned for the monastic life and he went to St Anthony of the Caves (July 10), who accepted the pious youth so firmly determined to become a…
St Damian the Priest and Healer of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Damian the Presbyter of the Near Caves of St Anthony, was mentioned by St Nestor the Chronicler (October 27). St Damian remembered the Baptism of Rus (in 988). This zealous imitator of St Theodosius (May 3) was gentle, industrious and obedient, to the joy of all the brethren. He spent the…
Venerable Nicodemus the Prosphora Baker of the Kiev Near Caves
Saints Spyridon and Nicodemus, the Prosphora-bakers of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves fulfilled their obedience of baking prosphora for thirty years. St Spyridon came to the monastery in the time of Igumen Pimen (1132-1141), when he was no longer a young man. The ascetic combined his work with…
St Laurence the Recluse and Bishop of Turov
Saint Laurence, Hermit of the Caves and Bishop of Turov, in the Near Caves at first lived as a hermit at the monastery of the Great Martyr Demetrius, built by Great Prince Izyaslav at Kiev near the Monastery of the Caves. Later, he transferred to the Kiev Caves monastery, and was glorified by a…
St Athanasius the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Athanasius, Hermit of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves, was a contemporary of the archimandrite St Polykarp (July 24) of the Kiev Caves. St Athanasius was grievously ill for a long time. When he died, the brethren prepared him for burial, and on the third day the igumen came to bury him. However,…
St Erasmus of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Erasmus of the Kiev Caves St Simon, Bishop of Vladimir (May 10), wrote about him to his friend St Polycarp (July 24): “At the Caves was Erasmus the black-robed. He acquired a legacy of fame because he used everything he possessed for the adornment of the monastery church. He donated…
Venerable Menignus the Steward of the Caves
No information available at this time.
St Agapitus the Doctor of the Kiev Near Caves
St Agapitus of the Caves. This Unmercenary Physician was born at Kiev. He was a novice and disciple of St Anthony of the Caves, and lived during the eleventh century. If any of the monastic brethren fell ill, St Agapitus came to him and selflessly attended to the sick one. He fed his patient boiled…
St Alexis the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Alexis, Hermit of Caves, lived a life of asceticism in the Near Caves of the Kiev Caves monastery during the thirteenth century. His relics were uncovered after 1675. The memory of St Alexis is celebrated on April 24, because his relics rest beside the relics of St Sava of Caves. His memory…
Venerable Sava of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Sava of the Caves lived in the Near Caves of the Kiev Caves monastery during the thirteenth century. In the manuscripts, in the “Book of the Saints,” and in the Canon of the Services to the Fathers of the Kiev Caves, he is called a wonderworker. His memory is celebrated on April…
Venerable Sergius the Obedient of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Sergius the Obedient of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves, was a Greek who began his monastic life on Mount Athos. Later, he came to Russia and settled in the monastery of the Life-Giving Trinity under the guidance of the venerable Sergius of Radonezh (July 5) and (September 25). After several…
St Mecurius the Bishop of Smolensk
No information available at this time.
Venerable Pimen the Long-Suffering of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Pimen the Much-ailing attained the Kingdom of Heaven by enduring grievous illness. This Russian ascetic was both born and grew up sickly, but his illness preserved him from illness of the soul. For a long time he besought his parents to send him to the Kiev Caves monastery. When they brought…
Venerable Nestor the Chronicler of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Nestor the Chronicler, of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves was born at Kiev in 1050. He came to St Theodosius (May 3) as a young man, and became a novice. St Nestor took monastic tonsure under the successor to St Theodosius, the igumen Stephen, and under him was ordained a hierodeacon. Concerning…
Martyr Eustratius of the Kiev Near Caves
Martyr Eustratius of the Caves was born in the eleventh century at Kiev into a wealthy family. As an adult, he received monastic tonsure at the Kiev Caves monastery, after giving away all his possesions to the poor. St Eustratius humbly underwent obediences at the monastery, strictly fulfilling the…
St Helladius the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Helladius the Recluse of the Near Caves of St Anthony is also commemorated on October 4.
Venerable Jeremiah the Seer of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Jeremiah the Clairvoyant was mentioned by St Nestor the Chronicler (October 27). He came to the Monastery of the Caves when he was already very old, and was tonsured by Sts Anthony and Theodosius. Because of the virtue and holiness of his life, the Lord allowed St Jeremiah to see into the…
Martyr Moses of Ugrin
Saint Moses the Hungarian of the Caves, was a brother of St Ephraim of Novy Torg (January 28), and of St George. Together with them he entered into the service of the holy Prince Boris (July 24). After the murder of St Boris in 1015 at the River Alta (St George also perished with him), St Moses…
Venerable John the Long-Suffering of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint John the Much-Suffering pursued asceticism at the Kiev Caves Lavra, accepting many sorrows for the sake of virginity. The ascetic recalled that from the time of his youth he had suffered much, tormented by fleshly lust, and nothing could deliver him from it, neither hunger nor thirst nor…
Venerable Mark the Grave-Digger of the Kiev Near Caves
Saints Mark the Grave-Digger, Theophilus and John are mentioned in the Kiev Caves Paterikon. Two brothers being monastics, Sts Theophilus and John, so loved each other that they prevailed upon St Mark to prepare a double grave so they could be buried side by side. Many years later, the older of…
St Nicholas the Prince of Chernigov
Saint Nicholas Sviatosha, Prince of Chernigov, and Wonderworker of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves, was a great-grandson of Great Prince Yaroslav the Wise and son of Prince David Svyatoslavich of Chernigov (+ 1123). Nicholas was the Prince of Lutsk, and he had a wife and children (his daughter was later…
Martyr George the Wonderworker of the Kiev Near Caves
No information available at this time.
Venerable Onesimus the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Onesimus the Recluse of the Near Caves is also commemorated on July 21 and October 4.
Venerable Matthew the Clairvoyant
Saint Matthew the Clairvoyant of the Near Caves of St Anthony is mentioned by St Nestor the Chronicler (October 27). Because of his ascetical struggles, God permitted him to see the demons, and to know their evil plots and hidden snares. St Matthew also had several visions which he revealed to the…
Venerable Isaiah the Wonderworker of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Isaiah was one of the saints of the Kiev Caves who struggled during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. He was known for his quietness and his unflagging toil, for which he is named a “lover-of-labor.” The holy ascetic died in the year 1115, and his relics are in the Near Caves of…
St Abraham the Lover of Labor of the Kiev Near Caves
St Abraham the Lover of Labor of the Near Caves of St Anthony is also commemorated on August 21
St Niphon the Bishop of Novgorod
Saint Niphon Bishop of Novgorod is also commemorated on April 8.
Venerable Sylvester the Wonderworker of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Sylvester of the Caves lived during the twelfth century and was igumen of the Mikhailov Vydubitsk monastery at Kiev. He continued the work of St Nestor the Chronicler and he wrote nine Lives of the holy saints of the Kiev Caves. In the service to the Fathers venerated in the Near Caves, St…
Venerable Pimen the Faster of the Kiev Near Caves
The Hieromartyr Kuksha and Saint Pimen the Faster died after the year 1114. St Simon, Bishop of Vladimir and Suzdal (May 10), in a letter to St Polycarp, Archimandrite of the Caves (July 24), wrote of St Kuksha: “How can I worthily proclaim the glory of those saintly men dwelling in the holy…
Venerable Onuphrius the Silent
Saint Onuphrius the Silent is also commemorated on November 9.
Venerable Anatolius the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Anatolius the Recluse of the Near Caves of St Anthony is also commemorated on July 3 and October 31.
St Alypius the Iconographer of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Alypius of the Near Caves, one of the first and finest of Russian iconographers, was a monastic disciple of St Nikon (March 23). From his youth he pursued asceticism at the Kiev Caves monastery. He studied the iconography of the Greek masters, and from the year 1083 beautified the Caves…
St Sisoes the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Sisoes of the Near Caves of St Anthony, lived as a recluse at the Kiev Caves monastery and was buried in the Near Caves. In the general service to the Fathers of the Kiev Caves St Sisoes is called “radiant in fasting.” St Sisoes is also commemorated on October 24, and on the…
St Theophilus the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Theophilus the Silent (12th-13th century), of the Near Caves of St Anthony, lived as a recluse at the Kiev Caves monastery and was buried in the Near Caves. St Theophilus, in the general service to the Fathers of the Kiev Caves, is called “resplendant in miracles.” He is also…
St Arethas the Recluse
Saint Arethas of the Near Caves of St Anthony, lived as a recluse at the Kiev Caves monastery. St Arethas was from Polotsk. While living at the monastery, he kept many possessions in his cell. One day robbers made off with them. Grieving over his lost riches, St Arethas began to murmur against…
Venerable Spyridon the Prosphora baker of the Kiev Near Caves
Saints Spyridon and Nicodemus, the Prosphora-bakers of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves fulfilled their obedience of baking prosphora for thirty years. St 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…
Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves pursued the ascetic life in the Kiev Caves monastery. He was a presbyter and had the gift of clairvoyance. He died in the year 1148 and was buried in the Near Caves beside St Spyridon (October 31). His memory is also celebrated on…
Venerable Simon the Bishop of Suzdal
Saint Simon, Bishop of Vladimir and Suzdal was an author of the KIEV CAVES PATERIKON, and he became a monk at the Monastery of the Caves, sometime in the second half of the twelfth century. In the year 1206 he was appointed igumen of the Vladimir Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos, and in…
Venerable Nikon the Igumen of the Caves
Saint Nikon of the Kiev Caves was the first disciple and fellow-ascetic of St Anthony (July 10), the founder of the Kiev Caves monastery, to which he came as a priest. At the monastery he tonsured all the new monks, and among their number was St Theodosius of the Caves (May 3 and August 14). For…
Venerable Theophanes the Faster of the Kiev Near Caves
No information available at this time.
Venerable Macarius of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Macarius, Faster of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves, and Saint Macarius, Deacon of Kiev Caves, Far Caves, were both deacons. Their memory is celebrated on January 19 because of their namesake, St Macarius of Egypt. St Macarius of the Far Caves lived in the thirteenth-fourteenth centuries, and was…
Venerable Deacon Anastasius of the Kiev Near Caves
The Monk Martyr Anastasius, Deacon of the Kiev Caves, lived an ascetical life in the Near Caves. The hieromonk Athanasius the Sooty calls him brother of St Titus the Presbyter (February 27). In the manuscripts of the saints he is called a deacon. In the Service to the Synaxis of the Fathers of the…
Childmartyr John
Saints Mark the Grave-Digger, Theophilus and John are mentioned in the Kiev Caves Paterikon. Two brothers being monastics, Sts Theophilus and John, so loved each other that they prevailed upon St Mark to prepare a double grave so they could be buried side by side. Many years later, the older of…
Venerable Elijah of Murom
Saint Elias Muromets of the Caves, nicknamed “Shoemaker” or “Cobbler,” was from the city of Murom. Popular legend identifies him with the famous warrior hero Elias Muromets, who was the subject of Russian ballads and of Gliere’s Symphony No. 3. St Elias died with the…
Venerable Nikon the Dry, of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Nikon the Shriveled, the son of rich and illustrious parents, gave up everything for Christ and became a monk at the Kiev Caves monastery. In the year 1096, during the incursions of Khan Bonyak, he was taken into captivity with some other monks. The captors treated St Nikon harshly, while…
St Ephraim the Bishop of Pereslavsk
Saint Ephraim of the Caves, Bishop of Pereslavl, before his tonsure into monasticism, was treasurer and steward of household affairs at the court of the Kiev Great Prince Izyaslav (Demetrius) Yaroslavich (1054-1068). Weighed down by this noisy and bustling life and wishng to become a monk, he was…
Hieromonk Titus
Saint Titus, Presbyter of the Near Caves, lived in great friendship with the deacon Evagrius, which later turned into a strong dislike and hostility. Although Hieromonk Titus tried several times to make peace with his former friend, the deacon Evagrius refused to be reconciled (Compare the story of…
Venerable Chariton of Senyazemsk
No information available at this time.
St Chariton the Confessor
Saint Chariton the Confessor suffered at Iconium during one of the persecutions against Christians under the emperor Aurelian. The grace-bearing example of the holy Protomartyr Thekla (September 24) encouraged him in his confessor’s deed. She being a native of his city, whose memory he in…
Venerable Nectarius the Obedient of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Nectarius the Obedient of the Caves, a monk of the Kiev Caves monastery, pursued asceticism during the twelfth century. For his unquestioning obedience to the will of elder brethren and his zeal for work he was termed “the Obedient.” St Nectarius was buried in the Antoniev Cave.…
Venerable Gregory the Iconographer of the Kiev Near Caves
St Gregory, Iconographer of the Caves, was a colleague of St Alypius of the Caves (August 17). In the “Accounts of the holy Iconographers” it says that he painted many wonderworking icons throughout the Russian Land. In the Ninth Ode of the Canon of the Service of the Synaxis of the…
Hieromartyr and Venerable Kuksha of the Kiev Near Caves
The Hieromartyr Kuksha and Saint Pimen the Faster died after the year 1114. St Simon, Bishop of Vladimir and Suzdal (May 10), in a letter to St Polycarp, Archimandrite of the Caves (July 24), wrote of St Kuksha: “How can I worthily proclaim the glory of those saintly men dwelling in the holy…
Venerable Gregory the Wonderworker of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Gregory was tonsured at the Kiev Caves monastery in the time of St 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…
Venerable Macarius the Deacon of the Kiev Caves
Saint Macarius, Faster of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves, and Saint Macarius, Deacon of Kiev Caves, Far Caves, were both deacons. Their memory is celebrated on January 19 because of their namesake, St Macarius of Egypt. St Macarius of the Far Caves lived in the thirteenth-fourteenth centuries, and was…
