Venerable Theophilus, Bishop of Novgorod and Pskov

(26 October/8 November)

When St Jonah reposed on December 5, 1471, the people of Novgorod chose the archdeacon of Otensk Hermitage, Theophil, as a new Archbishop of Novgorod and Pskov, by lot. He was consecrated on December 15, 1472, in Moscow. It was a very difficult time for the prelate to shepherd his flock. The governor of the city, Martha Boretskaya and her adherents, aroused people against the Great Prince Ioann, while monk Pimen, a friend of Boretsky’s, sowed hatred toward the archbishop. Some of the rebels wanted to place Novgorod under the protection of Lithuania. They were ready to betray the tsar and waiver of Orthodox faith of their ancestors. ‘Do not betray Orthodoxy,’ St Theophilus told them, ‘for I will not be a pastor to apostates, but will return to the humble cell from which you brought me to this disgraceful rebellion.’

The blinded people did not heed the pastor’s words. War broke out. Many times beaten Novgorodians were compelled to ask for mercy. Theophilus was their intercessor. Many Novgorod boyars were obligated to him for their freedom from Lithuanian prisons.

In 1478, he tried to convince the Prince to lift his siege of the city in vain, but Ioann kept in place until, at last, he was able to enter the city and take it. On January 19, 1480, Theophilus was removed because of slanders and was sent as an exile to Chudov Monastery near Moscow. In 1485, the saint became very ill. At that time, St Nephon, the reposed bishop of Novgorod, appeared to him and reminded that he had once vowed to visit Kiev and reverence the Cave saints. He told Theophilus that the days of his life were short, and so he had to hurry to fulfil his vow.

Thereupon, St Theophilus set out for Kiev, even though he was gravely ill. When his party arrived at the Dniepr, however, the Lord informed him that he would repose, his soul would be taken to the Lord Himself, and his body would to be buried in the caves. Right after that, St Theophilus fell asleep in the Lord. His relics were placed in the far caves.