THE VENERABLES BASIL AND THEODORE OF THE MONASTERY OF THE CAVES IN KIEV

August 11

From the Prologue

Both Basil and Theodore died by violence at the hands of the avaricious [money-loving] Prince Istislav in the year 1098 A.D. The hagiography of St. Theodore is especially instructive for the avaricious. Theodore was very wealthy and distributed all of his wealth to the poor and was tonsured a monk. After that, he repented and grieved for his wealth and was greatly tempted by the evil spirit of avarice from which St. Basil freed him.

HYMN OF PRAISE

SAINT SUSANNA, THE VIRGIN

Branch of Paradise, planted,

And on earth raised.

The branch grew and matured

With heaven, with the heart combined.

The black earth did not darken her

The evil of the world, did not bend her,

Susanna, a branch of Paradise is,

By God's Spirit, illumined,

Virgin, of Christ the God

The son of the emperor, scorned,

The emperor became angry; the emperor threatened her,

That he will bitterly avenge.

But, Susanna did not even want to listen,

In her, the mind of God contemplates

Her heart, illumined,

To Christ, betrothed.

The kinsmen were amazed

And in Christ, all were baptized

All the kinsmen, baptized were

And, martyrs became.

The emperor, his bloody hand, raised,

Upon Susanna, suffering imposed,

But, all the suffering is aimless,

When the soul, in the faith is powerful.

Susanna's head fell,

And her soul, in Paradise stood

In Paradise, stood before her Christ

Susanna's pure soul.