Venerable
Venerable Prince Nicholas (Nikola) Svyatosha of Chernigov, of the Kiev Caves
ок. 1080 — 1143
Also known as: Святослав Давидович Черниговский (в миру)
Venerable Nicholas Svyatosha — a reigning Prince of Chernigov and Lutsk, who renounced his throne for monasticism at the Kiev Caves Monastery, where for 36 years he pursued a feat of extreme humility, including serving as the monastery's gatekeeper.
Venerable Nicholas Svyatosha, born Prince Svyatoslav Davidovich, great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise, son of Prince David Svyatoslavich of Chernigov, was born around 1080. On February 17, 1106/1107, while a reigning prince (he held, among other titles, the principality of Lutsk), he renounced his throne, wife, and children and took monastic tonsure at the Kiev Caves Monastery — an extraordinary act for a Rurikid prince.
At the monastery he passed through the lowest obediences, tradition holding that for several years he served as the monastery's gatekeeper despite his princely origin, embodying radical humility. He observed periods of silence; whatever money came to him he spent on adorning the church, acquiring books (in effect funding a monastic library), or distributing alms to the poor. At his own expense he built and maintained a Church of the Holy Trinity and a hospital church dedicated to St. Nicholas at the monastery.
He died October 14, 1143, having spent 36 years as a monk; he was buried in the Near (Antonian) Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra. After his death, his brother, Prince Iziaslav, was healed of illness by wearing the saint's hair shirt.
His feast is kept on October 14/27.