Venerable Erasmus of the Kiev Caves

Venerable Erasmus of the Kiev Caves labored in the Kiev Caves Monastery in the second half of the 12th century. Entering the monastery a wealthy man, he spent his entire inheritance adorning the monastery's Dormition Cathedral, plating icons with silver and gold and decorating its walls. Having become poor, he was despised by the brethren as a spendthrift, and he himself fell into despair, believing he would receive no heavenly reward since he had not given alms to the poor but spent his wealth on church decoration. Falling gravely ill, he lay motionless for seven days; on the eighth, the Apostles Peter and Paul appeared to him together with the Mother of God, declaring that for adorning her church he would receive a greater reward than if he had given his wealth to the poor. Recovering, the monk confessed his vision before the brethren, received the great schema, and reposed peacefully three days later. He is buried in the Near (Anthony's) Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra.