Some saints in the Orthodox tradition are revered as healers: this is the name given to the first famous Christian doctors who received from the Lord the power to heal even the most severe human ailments. Orthodox healers perceived their gift as an apostolic ministry and devoted their entire lives to this work: the Christian exploits of the healer Panteleimon are widely known; Saint Luke Voino-Yasenetsky saved many people from certain death. The healer Agapit of Pechersk became no less famous in Christianity.
Life of the Saint
One day, a beggar man appeared at the gates of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, who in the future was destined to become a famous Christian healer. Unfortunately, no evidence has been preserved about the life of the Saint before his appearance in the monastery. The future ascetic took monastic vows under Anthony of Pechersk under the name Agapit and became a monk of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Agapit of Pechersk witnessed the spiritual feat of Father Anthony, and, starting his monastic path, tried to follow his example. When one of the monks fell ill, the righteous man stayed at the patient’s bedside around the clock, praying for his health and caring for the sick person until he recovered.
After some time, the fame of his healing abilities spread throughout the city of Kyiv and surrounding lands. Many people suffering from serious bodily ailments sought to get to the ascetic in order to receive healing through his prayers and with his help.
In those ancient times, there lived a doctor in Kyiv who was engaged in healing practice. That man had a special talent: if he could not find a cure for an illness, he predicted the patient’s exact date of death. That doctor was never wrong in his predictions. One day it happened that Prince Vladimir Monomakh became seriously ill. When the prince's servants turned to the Kyiv doctor for help, he said that the Grand Duke would die in 3 days. In despair, the princely retinue went to the Kiev-Pechersk monastery for help from the Monk Agapit. He prayed to the Lord and begged Him for healing for the Kyiv prince.
From that day on, the envious doctor harbored a grudge against Agapit of Pechersk. One day he sent an assassin with poison to the Saint to poison the ascetic. Saint Agapit calmly drank the poison prepared for him, and it did not harm the monk’s health in any way. Thus the words of the Lord were fulfilled: “He who believes in me, even if he drinks mortal drinks, it will not harm him.”
When Agapit of Pechersk reached old age, his health began to deteriorate. That same envious doctor came to the Saint and predicted that he had only a few days left to live. The Monk Agapit responded to this: “I know that I don’t have long to live on Earth. I also know the day of my death: I will live in the monastery for another three months.” The doctor laughed in response to the elder’s words and said that he would become a monk if the Monk Agapit lived longer than three days. After that conversation, the elder lived exactly three more months.
After some time, the repentant doctor appeared within the walls of the monastery. He said that at first he had no intention of keeping his promise to the elder. But then Agapit of Pechersk appeared to him in a dream and warned that the man would die if he did not fulfill his vow. So the former enemy of Agapit of Pechersk was tonsured a monk; during the years of living in the monastery, he realized his sins and repented. Even after death, Agapit of Pechersk was able to help his enemy, because the Lord does not want death for the sinner, He gives every person the opportunity to repent and be saved.
The relics of the saint are still in one of the caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra; pilgrims come to the Saint every day to thank him for his miraculous help. Those who once visited Agapit of Pechersk say that an unknown miraculous warmth emanates from his relics, as if from a living person.
Personality of the Saint
The name of the Saint speaks for itself, because translated from Greek the word “agape” means “love”. The very concept of love is divided into many categories: it can be friendly, romantic, related feelings; the concept of “agape” defines the highest form of love: sacrificial, selfless, not demanding anything in return.
Reverend Agapit helped all people who turned to him for help, regardless of their financial condition and position in society. At the same time, the Saint was a strict person and made no exceptions for anyone: even when Prince Vladimir Monomakh fell ill, the elder refused to leave the walls of the monastery and go to the princely chambers. He handed the ruler some greens from the monks' table and said that the prince would be healed after eating it.
The recovered prince came to the monastery, wanting to express respect and gratitude to the Monk Agapit, but he hid in one of the cells to avoid honors. After some time, the prince’s envoy again came to the monk and found him in his cell. Agapit of Pechersk again refused to accept the prince's gold as a gift, to which the envoy replied that the monk had the right to dispose of the gold as he saw fit: by his order, this gold could be distributed to poor townspeople. Then the Saint ordered the prince to distribute his gold to those in need, and the ascetic took the money that was prepared for him as a reward outside the walls of the monastery and left it at the gates of the monastery. The prince, having learned about the instructions of Father Agapit, began to generously distribute money to those who needed it.
Important! The Monk Agapit never took payment for his help, since he believed that a true Christian, who has received a gift from above from the Lord, does not have the right to dispose of it for his own benefit, and therefore cannot set a price for his good deeds.
Image of Saint Agapit
The first images of Agapit of Pechersk appeared in ancient times. Nowadays, an icon depicting St. Agapit can often be seen in the church or home iconostasis of Orthodox believers. He is usually depicted as an elderly man holding a bouquet of medicinal herbs in one hand and a vessel with a medicinal decoction in the other. The Monk Agapit is dressed in simple monastic robes. The Kiev Pechersk Lavra is often depicted behind the monk’s back.
In 2011, Anastasia Novykh’s exhibition “Agapit of Pechersk” took place in Kyiv.
In 2011, in the city of Kyiv, in the mansion of one of the 19th century patrons of the arts, an exhibition of the artist Anastasia Novykh entitled “Agapit of Pechersk” took place.
2011
this year an exhibition of paintings by Anastasia Novykh “Agapit of Pechersk” took place in Kyiv
Anastasia painted a portrait that corresponds to the true appearance of Agapit of Pechersk himself. This appearance was restored based on anthropological studies of the saint’s relics.
Painting by artist Anastasia Novykh “Agapit of Pechersk”. Photo: proxy10.online.ua
More than 3,000 people visited this exhibition in just one day. Some came to Kyiv specially in honor of this event. Why was this image created? This image was created in order to awaken the deepest feelings of man in many corners of our earth.
Prayer to Agapit of Pechersk
To this day, people turn to Saint Agapit for help, trusting in his mercy. On the day of remembrance of the saint, a huge number of believers come to venerate his relics and thank the ascetic for his help and intercession.
The Monk Agapit of Pechersk helps Christians even after his death. No one keeps statistics on miraculous healings, but testimonies of help can be heard simply by visiting the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Thus, one man told his story about how the Saint helped him avoid amputation of his arm. The man came to the monastery and begged St. Agapit for help: thanks to the ascetic’s intercession before the Lord, he was healed. His attending physician had previously been skeptical about various miracles, but after this incident he himself came to the temple to venerate the relics of Saint Agapit.
The church honors the memory of the Saint on June 14. On this day, believers read an akathist dedicated to Agapit of Pechersk in a church or at a home iconostasis.
Venerable Agapit is often approached in situations where traditional methods of treatment do not bring the desired result. Typically, believers call for the help of the Holy One in the following cases:
- at the beginning of any illness, asking the Holy One to grant wisdom to the attending physicians and help them make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment;
- during the recovery period after severe injuries;
- for oncological diseases;
- for diseases of unknown origin, if doctors find it difficult to make a diagnosis;
- asking for health for your loved ones;
- In addition to asking for the healing of a sick person from physical ailments, the Saint is often asked for deliverance from passions that torment the soul.
Important! Before starting to pray, a Christian must turn to the Lord, utter words of repentance and ask for help.
Turning to Saint Agapit, believers read the following prayer.
Memorial Days
June 14, the day of the presentation of Rev. Agapit of Pechersk, the church honors the memory of the saint. In the evening, on the eve of the holiday, a procession of the cross takes place in the Lavra with the participation of the clergy and believers. According to established tradition, the relics of the saint are transferred from the Near Caves to the Refectory Church, where the All-Night Vigil is celebrated. The next day, on a holiday, the Divine Liturgy takes place, the akathist is sung in front of a huge crowd of people.
Many on this day can venerate the relics of the saint. Those who have been like this at least once in their lives remember that warmth emanated from the saint’s body, as if from a living person.
Days of memory of Saint Agapit of Pechersk:
- June 14;
- March, 2nd week of Lent - Council of the Kiev-Pechersk Saints;
- October 11 - Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Reverend Fathers, in the Near Caves.
Prayer to St. Agapit of Pechersk, free doctor
Oh, all-blessed Agapite, earthly Angel and Heavenly man! We fall to you with faith and love and pray to you diligently: show us your holy intercession to the humble and sinful; Behold, it is a sin for our sake, not the imams are free to ask the children of God for our needs to the Lord and our Master, but to you, a favorable prayer book, we offer to Him and ask you with zeal for many things: ask from His goodness we receive the beneficial gifts to our souls and bodies, the right faith, love for everyone is unfeigned, patience in suffering, those overcome by serious illnesses - healing from ailments, under the burden of sorrows and misfortunes, the unbearable ones who fall and the lives of those who despair are filled with your prayers Look for quick relief and deliverance. Do not forget, blessed father, this holy monastery, which always honors you, but keep it and all who live and struggle in it and who come to worship there unharmed from the temptations of the devil and all evil. When our departure from this temporary life and migration to eternity arrives, do not deprive us of your heavenly help, but through your prayers lead us all to the haven of salvation and reveal us to be heirs All-bright Kingdom of Christ, let us sing and glorify the ineffable generosity of the Lover of Mankind, God the Father and The Son and the Holy Spirit and yours, together with the Venerables Anthony and Theodosius, are your father’s intercession forever and ever. Amen.
The akathist to the monk can be found here.
Agapit of Pechersk was not just a herbalist and doctor who knew how to choose the right medicine for certain diseases. He was endowed with special divine power, and the grace descending to people through the ascetic healed and saved them.
During the celebration of Saint Agapit in the temple, the troparion and kontakion are sung
During the celebration of Saint Agapit in the temple, the troparion and kontakion are sung.
The Troparion and Kontakion can also be read at home. Troparion, tone 5:
Jealous of the God-bearing Anthony's humility, like some kind of healing potion, you healed the sick, Reverend Agapit, thus convincing the doctor that he was unfaithful, you guided him on the path of salvation. Heal our illnesses too and pray to the Lord for those who sing your praises.
Second troparion, tone 2:
You rejoiced in the great faith of correction, in the cave seclusion, as if on the water of repose, the Reverend Father Agapit, who are ignited by the fire of Divine love, by vigil and prayer you achieved dispassion and you appeared equal to the angels on earth.
Through his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.
Kontakion, tone 6:
This doctor is remarkable, wonderful, revealing your undoubted faith, denouncing the Armenian unbelief and leading him to piety. When you were near death, you asked God for the continuation of your life and, having thus miraculously assured him, you brought him to Christ, standing before Him in joy, praying about us, reverend.
