Venerable Nestor the Chronicler of the Kiev Caves

Venerable Nestor the Chronicler was born around 1056 in Kiev. At seventeen he entered the Kiev Caves Monastery and was received into the brotherhood by Saint Theodosius of the Caves himself; after Theodosius's death he was tonsured by Abbot Stephen and ordained a hierodeacon. He became renowned as one of the first hagiographers and chroniclers of ancient Rus'. In the 1080s he wrote the "Account of the Life and Martyrdom of the Blessed Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb" and the Life of Saint Theodosius of the Caves. The chief labor of his life was the compilation, around 1112–1113, of the "Primary Chronicle" (Povest' vremennykh let) — the oldest surviving chronicle of Rus', tracing its history from biblical times to the early twelfth century and forming the foundation of all later Russian chronicle-writing. Saint Nestor was noted for his deep humility and love of learning, saying, "Great is the benefit of book learning." He reposed around 1114 and was buried in the Near (Anthony's) Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra, where his relics still rest. His feast is kept October 27/November 9, and also in the Synaxis of the Fathers of the Near Caves, September 28/October 11.