Tomb with the relics of Venerable Agapitus of the Kiev Caves. Photo by news.church.ua
The Synaxis of the Kiev Caves Saints includes the Unmercenary Physician Agapitus. The incorrupt relics of the venerable saint have rested there for almost a thousand years, but he hears prayers as if there wasn’t a millennium dividing him and those who pray at his tomb today... This story is about the testimony of miraculous help and healings through prayers to Venerable Agapitus the Unmercenary Physician of the Kiev Caves.
From the life of the holy father we know that his monastic life was largely connected with healing—St. Agapitus of Kiev Caves helped to treat ailments of monks and laity.
The holy father rested in the Lord in 1095 and was buried in the Near Caves of the Kiev Caves Monastery.
I have found out about this saint and his wondrous help thanks to the testimony of my colleague Lilianna Petrusenko. With her permission, we offer the details of these testimonies below.
Hopeless
Lilya was diagnosed with a benign tumor. For six years, she was looking for ways to overcome her illness. During all that time, treatments brought no positive results. It seemed there was no way out for her.
The incorrupt relics of the venerable saint have rested for almost a thousand years, but he hears prayers there wasn’t a millennium separating him and the people who pray at his tomb today
Her spiritual quest at the time was limited to seeking answers about her health problem. Lilya decided to turn to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
But it didn’t result in healing. On the contrary, the more Lilya was using widely recognized practices, such as yoga, qigong, and reiki, the worse she felt. Her illness grew progressively worse. A new doctor referred her for surgery, as she had no other alternative left. Sadly, the chances of a successful outcome out of surgical intervention were almost nil.
Lilya was studying in Kiev at the time and she would sometimes go to the Kiev Caves Lavra to admire its ancient architecture—but for nothing else.
Shortly after she was assigned to have a surgery, something happened that should have been an absolutely ordinary event. However, it turned out to be no more and no less than her first step towards becoming a faithful Orthodox Christian.
Lilya's friend started working as the guide in the Kiev Caves Lavra and invited all her friends on a free tour.
By that time she was in great pain. Medicine failed to help her. To somehow distract herself in anticipation of the day appointed by her surgeon, Lilya accepted the invitation and went to the Lavra.
During the excursion, she was most surprised by the fact that the relics of St. Agapitus and another saint, Nectarius, rested in an ancient underground ninth-century temple, lying apart from other relics. The rest of the fathers rested in the caves.
Lilya also noticed a long queue waiting to get to the tomb of St. Agapitus. She saw people praying on their knees and noticed that many of them were bringing flowers to the venerable saint. She suddenly heard the word “doctor”… She thought to herself... What if there is hope and I can turn to this saint for help?..
With this thought occupying her mind, Lilya wholeheartedly appealed to Venerable Agapitus asking to help her and heal her painful disease. For the first time in her life, she prayed tearfully, opening up her heart to God in the hope that He would hear her.
Relics of Venerable Agapitus in the Kiev Caves Lavra. Photo: elitsy.ru
She stayed there for only a few moments; their group had spent mere minutes in the underground church. It was like a prayer on the run. But even during those couple of minutes she sensed something inexpressible. She felt as if an “electric current” pierced her body from the top of her head down to her legs. These are her exact words describing what she felt after her appeal to St. Agapitus. Like a real electric current, it made her entire body tremble violently. Lilya later realized that it was an act of the grace of the Holy Spirit. After all, what happened after that can’t be called anything but a miracle.
The day before her surgery, she passed all required tests. All of them showed no signs of tumor
She soon forgot about this unusual sensation and her visit to the Lavra. Lilya’s life returned to normal, as far as was possible in her situation. The day before her surgery, she passed all the required tests. All of them showed no signs of tumor...
After this, not only she was healed physically, but her soul also recovered, as Lilianna admitted herself. Her life and inner state changed forever.
A Skeptic
Lilya’s grandfather, Leonid Konstantinovich Shevchenko, wasn’t a religious man. His work as a forensic scientist made him believe only in facts. He was baptized in childhood, like most Soviet citizens, and it was most likely performed in secret. Nonetheless, Leonid Konstantinovich didn’t deny that Divine Providence was present in his life; because during his long career, he repeatedly avoided death in an unimaginable way. That said, according to his granddaughter, he somewhat resembled the Apostle Thomas who needed to put his fingers into the side of Jesus Christ to convince himself of His Resurrection.
Lilya had surely told her beloved grandfather about her miraculous healing. However, Leonid Konstantinovich was unmoved by her exciting story and only listened in silence.
Affliction
Lilya’s grandpa got sick, and it got so serious that he had to be admitted to the hospital. Doctors discussed the possibility of surgery. As it turned out, Leonid Konstantinovich was found to have a large kidney stone. This caused a heart attack and even clinical death.
At that moment, Lilya was in Moscow, while her mother stayed in Kiev. A casual acquaintance whom Lilya's mother had met in the Lavra helped her deliver the holy water, prosphora and the icon of Venerable Agapitus. That woman flew from Kiev to Moscow and Lilya received it all on the next day. She rushed to her grandfather in the hospital...
But how can she convince a skeptic to drink holy water and take a piece of prosphora?..
So, here she was in the ward, telling her grandfather about the miraculous delivery of the holy water, prosphora, and the icon there... But he remained unmoved and wouldn’t drink or eat anything. Oh well… His granddaughter put everything at the bedside table and left.
Change
Venerable Agapitus the Umnercenary Physician. Kiev Caves Patericon In the morning, Lilya went to the hospital to see her grandfather.
It turned out that he was transferred to the general ward for convalescents, although just a day before, Leonid Konstantinovich was staying in a separate room after having suffered a clinical death.
What surprised Lilya even more was that her grandfather greeted her while seated on his bed. He took his granddaughter by the hand and said softly:
"I must tell you something.”
Leonid Konstantinovich told Lilya that late at night he finally decided to drink the water and eat the prosphora at the insistence of his daughter. After that, he fell asleep, but early in the morning, right before dawn, he woke up because… someone was staring at him. It was hard to see the face of that person, as it was hidden under a hood. Yet, this stranger was standing really close to him—next to the foot of his bed.
This person wasn’t moving and remained silent. Leonid Konstantinovich asked him:
“Who are you? What do you want?”
But the mysterious man wouldn’t answer. The former forensic scientist was ill at ease and, gaining strength, repeated his question. But it changed nothing.
At last, Leonid Konstantinovich decided that it was a dream, so he decided he must try to close his eyes and “wake up” again. He did just that, but everything was as it’s been before—a stranger in a dark garment was standing there looking at him. After that, he had the idea to close his eyes and pinch himself—this would certainly help him to dispel this “delusion,” thought the experienced forensic scientist. He closed his eyes, pinched himself till it hurt, and then opened his eyes... but the same man in a hood and a mantle was still there looking at him.
Bare facts
Grandfather admitted to Lilya that after that he got really scared, and all he could do was inhale deeply to call for help. But then the stranger took a swing at him with one hand, as if trying to throw something at him. The latter felt how something hit him on his forehead. He definitely felt the pain.
Bewildered doctors asked what else the patient was taking, except his medication. He replied in all honesty: "Holy water and prosphora…"
After that, Leonid Konstantinovich cried out in pain and called for help from his daughter, who was keeping vigil at his bedside. He immediately noticed that the silhouette had disappeared. The witness of the wondrous vision eagerly began to tell everyone about what had happened, but no one believed him... And once he told about a “blow” on his forehead, his daughter picked up the icon from the floor, adding: "So that's what had hit you! The icon fell off the shelf!"
Leonid Konstantinovich picked up the icon and saw that it depicted his stranger, dressed in the same hood and the mantle, just as he saw him today by the bed at dawn. Agapitus of Kiev Caves himself had come for a visit!
After taking the holy water and prosphora from the Kiev Caves Lavra, Leonid Konstantinovich went to have an ultrasound. He had no stone in his kidney! Astonished doctors asked what else the patient was taking besides his medication. He replied in all honesty: "Holy water and prosphora…"
I believe…
“Do you believe now?" Lilya asked her grandfather upon hearing his story.
“I do,” answered Leonid Konstantinovich.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
After discharge from the hospital, Lilya prayed to St. Agapitus for help so that her beloved grandfather could live to see his great-grandchildren, who were living in Germany at the time. And so it happened. Her grandson came with his family to Russia on vacation and they had a long-awaited reunion. Then, soon after their departure, Lilya’s grandfather departed to the Lord.
***
In 1996, a Church of Venerable Agapitus of Kiev Caves was built next to the medical center at the “Goluboye” urban settlement near Zelenograd. Lilya first moved to that area to only later realize that her new home was located not far from the church dedicated to her beloved saint! Marvelous are Thy works, O Lord!”
Holy Father Agapitus, pray to God for us!
