No wonder the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is called the sun of Kyiv. The history of Kievan Rus revolves around it for centuries. Its radiance began with the quiet light of the lamps that lit up in the caves of the Lavra almost ten centuries ago. Today the relics of the holy ascetics lie in g
robah near and far caves. The holy relics of Mark the Gravedigger are also among them. There are 120 in total.
Mark the Gravedigger. Life
This holy ascetic, after taking the holy angelic image, lived in a cave during the time of the holy father Theodosius at the end of the 11th - beginning of the 12th century. Imitating the exploits of the holy fathers of the Caves, he refined his flesh with great abstinence, his copper hollow cross served as a daily measure of water for him, into which he poured it, and his food was dry bread, which the monk did not eat every day. The monk dug up entire streets in caves, not only for prayers, but also for the burial of the dead brethren. This was his special obedience.
Working incessantly in his charitable work, he had no desire to receive earthly blessings, being in anticipation of a great reward in Heaven. And even if he was given someany payment, he immediately distributed it to the poor and wretched.
Blessed Mark the Gravedigger finally defeated the “spirit-lustful” enemy of the human race, killing his flesh, not only by confinement in a cave, but by vigil, fasting, abstinence from sleep, hunger, hard physical labor and an iron girdle. He, almost like an angel, revealed himself to be incorporeal in practice and therefore was not afraid of death, or rather, she was afraid of him, like the voice and the Archangel's trumpet, because the Lord endowed this holy ascetic with such a powerful power of miracles that even the dead obeyed him, and that's it. this was confirmed by the miracles taking place.
Wonderful deeds
Many very interesting stories are connected with Saint Mark the Gravedigger. Once he became exhausted, having become tired, and made one of the graves narrow. On the same day, one of the monks died due to illness, and since there was no other grave, he was placed with great difficulty in this cramped place. The brethren did not like this, and she began to grumble at the monk Mark, as she could not pour oil on the deceased.
Then the reverend asked the deceased brother to move a little and, due to the tightness of the bed, pour oil on himself. Suddenly, at the word of the monk, in some miraculous way, the deceased rose a little, took oil in his hand and poured it crosswise over himself. Then, returning the vessel and recovering, he lay down and rested. At the sight of this, everyone was seized with amazing fear and trembling.
Resurrection of a monk
There was another case when Saint Mark the Gravedigger did not have time to prepare the placefor the newly appointed monk. Another monk, having wiped the deceased with a sponge, went to the cave to look at the place where his body would rest.
Meeting Mark on his way, he asked if the place was ready. But he asked to tell the deceased to wait a little more. But the monk said in surprise that he had already wiped the dead body of the monk and left. Arriving at the monastery, he saw how the brethren performed singing for the deceased. Then he told the dead brother all the words that St. Mark that the place is not ready yet and we have to wait.
As soon as he uttered the words transmitted by Blessed Mark, the soul instantly returned to the deceased. He opened his eyes without speaking, and lived the time that Mark so requested. In the morning, when the place was ready, the body of the deceased was laid, and the spirit immediately went to God.
Brothers Fefil and John
Here is another story that was connected with Rev. Mark. Once he prepared a grave for the brothers Theophilus and John, the latter the Lord called earlier another brother, and he was buried in the place that the elder Theophilus was supposed to occupy. It was located a little higher in its location.
Theophilus was not in the monastery at that time, he was sent to perform an obedience. When he returned, he first washed away his grief over his departed brother with tears, and then he was very indignant when he saw that the brother had been put in his place, and became indignant at the monk. Then Rev. Mark asked the dead man to move down a little, and he immediately fulfilled the request of the monk. Struck by what he saw, Theophilus strongly repented and then all his lifeHe behaved piously, shedding tears every day in the memory of a mortal and thus bringing himself to physiological blindness, but seeing spiritually. Now the relics of the holy brothers Theophilus and John lie next to the relics of St. Brand.
Ascetic holy relics
Blessed Mark the Gravedigger exhausted himself by wearing heavy iron chains. He spent day and night in unceasing prayer with strict fasting, like the Lord Himself.
God revealed to the monk the time of his death, and when it came, he called the monk Theophilus, together with him they fasted and prayed for a long time. Rev. Mark dug his own grave and after his death was buried in the Near Caves. Chains, a hat and a miraculous copper cross, with which he consecrated with his own lips, became his holy relics.
The result of anthropological research showed that St. Mark introduced himself around the age of 40.
Hat st. Brand
Now, many who come to his holy relics through their prayer receive healing and the resolution of various fateful cases.
Pechersk ascetics became bearers of the grace of the Holy Spirit and perfect morality. Their imperishable relics in the Lavra caves are a gift of God's Grace for their special love for their neighbors and the holiness of life.
Reverend Mark the Gravedigger wore a hat with an iron frame of icons, which weighed 4 kg. Today it is kept in the Lavra in the temple "Life-Giving Spring". From Monday to Friday at 8:30, on Saturday at 10:30, except Sunday, prayers are performed in this temple with putting on a hat. In ittime the holy ascetic is asked for help and intercession.
The Orthodox Church solemnly commemorates his name as part of the Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Venerable Resting in the Near Caves on January 11 and October 11 according to the new calendar.
Heavenly patrons
Never forget about our holy heavenly defenders who, hearing our prayers, are ready to bring them to the Lord at any moment.
Some people, along with a pectoral cross or on special days, wear a pectoral icon of St. Mark the Gravedigger or an icon of some other patron saint close in spirit. This is how believers try to protect themselves from the machinations of evil spirits, receive healing from ailments, and are tempered by fortitude in various everyday situations.
In his constant prayer, Mark the Gravedigger turned to his beloved Lord with an invocation: “Lord Lover of mankind, Lord Jesus Christ, my Most Holy King!”.
Troparion St. Marku begins with the words: “Having killed the carnal lusts with many abstinence…”.
Kontakion to the saint sounds like this: “The doctor is pretty and the miracle worker of love, faithfulness, we will appease, asking him…”.
Holy Reverend Father Mark, pray to God for us!
