Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Caves

Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Caves labored in the Near Caves of the Kiev Caves Monastery in the 12th century as a presbyter and confessor to the brethren. God granted him the rare gift of perceiving the secret sins of monks, hidden from human eyes. According to the Paterikon, after the death of one monk who had seemed pious but sinned in secret, an unbearable stench arose from his body, while other brethren who appeared more sinful but had truly repented remained fragrant after death. Through an angelic vision the spiritual meaning of this sign was revealed — a warning against hidden, unconfessed sin and hypocrisy. Venerable Onesiphorus reposed in 1148 and was buried in the Near (Anthony's) Caves beside the relics of St. Spyridon the Prosphora-baker. He is venerated in the Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves, resting in the Near Caves.