Russian monk. Born to a wealthy family, he gave up all connection with the comfortable circumstances of his
parents and labored in the fields with the humble peasants before entering the monastery ofthe Caves in Kiev about 1032. Eventually becoming
abbot of the community, he introduced many reforms to end the extreme
asceticism which had been long-standing practice and introduced a more moderate rule for the monks. Aside from promoting the spiritual
life in the region around Kiev, he also aided the poor, established hospitals, and involved himself in the dynastic politics of the duchy of Kiev. Through his labors, he made "the Caves" one of the foremost monastic institutions in Russia. Canonized in 1108 by the
bishop of Kiev, he is venerated by the Russian
Orthodox Church as one of the founders of Russian monasticism.
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