Venerable Nikon of the Kiev Caves, Abbot

NOTE ON IDENTITY SELECTION: the bare name "Nikon" is highly ambiguous; for this card the most likely default candidate has been chosen — the abbot of the Kiev Caves Monastery, distinct from three other "Nikons" in this batch of database entries (Nikon of Crete, Nikon of Optina, Nikon the Dry).

Venerable Nikon was one of the first disciples of Venerable Anthony, founder of the Kiev Caves Monastery, and arrived at the monastery already an ordained presbyter, himself tonsuring incoming brothers (including Venerable Theodosius of the Caves). His tonsuring of two favorites of Grand Prince Iziaslav without permission provoked the prince's anger, forcing Nikon to withdraw temporarily. He founded a monastery dedicated to the Theotokos on the Taman peninsula (Tmutarakan), then returned to the Caves Monastery.

After the repose of Abbot Stephen, he was elected abbot of the Kiev Caves Monastery (c. 1078–1088), during which he oversaw the adornment of the monastery's churches with frescoes and mosaics and is remembered as a scholar-chronicler. He died in advanced old age in 1088 and was buried in the Near Caves, where his relics remain.

His feast is kept on March 23/April 5; also in the Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Near Caves (September 28/October 11) and the general Synaxis of the Kiev Caves Fathers (2nd Sunday of Great Lent).