Feast Day: November 31st
& September 28th – Synaxis of the Holy Fathers of the Near Caves
& Second Sunday of Great Lent – Synaxis of All the Fathers of the Kiev Caves
The Life of Saint Spyridon and Saint Nikodemus: Saint Spyridon and Saint Nikodemus the Prosphora-Bakers of the Kiev Caves fulfilled their obedience of baking Prosphora for thirty years…
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Prayers
Apolytikion – Tone 4: While ye made loaves for the Eucharist with your own hands, with your mouths ye offered unceasing Psalmody to the Lord as a sacrifice of praise, O Blessed Spyridon and honoured Nikodemus. Entreat Christ God together in behalf of our Souls.
Kontakion – Tone 3: That thou mightest reveal thy burning love for the Lord, O Wondrous Spyridon, with thy mantle thou didst stop up the mouth of the furnace which was burning mightily; and that thou mightest show forth the well-spring of the waters of the Gifts of the Spirit which dwelt within thee, bearing water in thy robe thou didst extinguish the flame of the fire. Wherefore, as thou hast boldness before the Lord, ever Pray with the blessed Nikodemus in behalf of us who Hymn thee.
Saint Spyridon and Saint Nikodemus lived in Asceticism at the Lavra of the Kiev Caves and fulfilled their obedience of by baking Prosphora for thirty years. This is the Holy Bread used in the Holy Eucharist.
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Once, while baking Prosphora, the fire from the furnace caused a fire in the kitchen. Saint Spyridon quickly went out to gather water in his hair shirt, and returned calling for the brothers to come help him extinguish the fire. While trying to extinguish the fire, his mantle caught fire from the oven. The fire was put out with the water, Saint Spyridon’s mantle remained whole and the water did not flow out of the hair shirt.
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Saint Spyridon combined his hard work with unceasing Prayer and the singing of Psalms. He was illiterate, but learned the entire Psalter by heart so he could sing the entire Psalter throughout the day, whether he was chopping wood for the fire, kneading the dough, walking or resting.
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Saint Nikodemus laboured with Saint Spyridon in the kitchen for thirty years and led a very strict and Prayerful life.
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