May: Day 3: Teaching 1: Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Caves

May: Day 3: Teaching 1:
Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Caves
 
(Teach By Good Example)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Our Venerable Father Theodosius, Abbot of the Caves, the head of the monastic community in Russia, who lived in the 11th century, and who is remembered today, taught his brethren many useful words, and his words were not fruitless, but by his life and good example he simply conquered the hearts of those around him. His brethren, the monks of the Caves, were very zealous in church services, because their abbot was the first to arrive for divine services and the last to leave the church. Wherever he appeared in the monastery, he set to work everywhere, as an example to the brethren. He appeared in the kitchen, here he began to knead dough; he came to the monks who were the compilers of books, and here he applied his feasible work, and his example always greatly encouraged the brethren in holy labors.

Once, according to the Venerable Nestor the Chronicler in his description of the life of the Venerable Theodosius, on the eve of the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, there was no water in the kitchen. The cellarer comes to him and says: "There is no one, father, to carry water to the kitchen." The Venerable Theodosius, without saying anything, took a jug, went down to the well and began to carry water. One of the brethren saw his abbot doing this, told another, then he told a third, and the brethren all began to carry water, and carried it in excess.

Another incident: one day the cellarer comes to the Venerable Abbot and asks him to appoint one of the brethren to chop wood for the kitchen. "I am idle, I will go, brother," answered the Venerable One, and immediately he himself went to work, having meanwhile ordered the brethren to go to the refectory, since it was then the time of the brethren's meal. Coming out of the refectory and seeing their abbot at hard work, the brethren with great zeal set to work and chopped wood for many days.

In general, the entire life of the venerable abbot of the Caves Theodosius was one continuous example of piety for the brethren.

II. If you, my brethren, want to teach someone good, to bring someone who is wayward to reason, do not waste many words in vain, especially when you notice that your words have little effect on him, but teach him by deed, by good example.

If you want to wean your children and your household from laziness, work yourself, be the first to start work.

If you want to teach them sobriety, never drink too much yourself.

If you want to wean your household from swearing and foul language, never swear or use foul language yourself.

If you want your children to pray fervently and to fervently attend the temple of God, you too should pray every day of God, morning and evening, and visit the house of God more often.

Do this, but talk less about it, do not boast that you yourself do this and that, otherwise your words will be self-praise, and your deeds will be deeds only for show, i.e. they will not be real good deeds, not a real good example. Only real good deeds can be good, powerful, soul-saving examples.

III. Teach, brethren, teach others not so much by words as by good deeds, for "a good word is silver, but a good deed is gold." Remember that instructions only indicate, but examples lead directly, says popular wisdom. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven," said the Lord (Matt. 5:15), pointing out the significance of good deeds in people's lives. 

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.