Mark the Grave Digger

He labored at the end of XI and at the beginning of XII centuries in the Kiev-Pechersk monastery. Pure in heart and simple in life, he was busy digging caves and graves. For this hard work, the monk did not take anything, unless someone himself gave him anything and even this he distributed to the poor.

Humbling his flesh with fasting, vigil and prayer, in order to completely kill her, he laid his heavy chains on his loins and abstained even from using water: when he was thirsty for a saint, he drank water only as much as he carried in his brass cross. by myself. God was pleased with the incessant works and exploits of Rev. Mark, and he was honored with such a wonderful power that even the dead listened to his voice. It so happened that for the deceased brother was not dug out a place for burial. Then, at the request of Rev. Mark, the deceased brother came to life and rested again the next day, when the place for burial was ready. Another time, Rev. Mark, very tired, dug up a narrow and inconvenient grave, where the deceased brother was laid. Due to the inconvenience of the grave, it was impossible to either fix the clothes on the dead, or even pour oil on him. Then the Monk Mark, with humility asking all for forgiveness, ordered the dead man himself to pour oil on himself. And the dead man, raising himself a little, stretched out his hand, took the oil, poured it crosswise on his chest and face, and, having given the vessel, lay down and rested again with an eternal sleep.

After seeing the hour of his death, the Monk Mark with peace departed to the Lord and was buried in the Nearest (Anthony) caves.

• Artamonov Yu.A., Shevchenko E.V. Mark, Theophilus and John // Orthodox Encyclopedia . - M .: Orthodox Church Research Center "Orthodox Encyclopedia" , 2016. - T. XLIII: "Maxim - Markell I". - p. 706-711.

• Rev. Mark Pechersky, grave-digger on the site Orthodoxy.Ru
• Rev. Mark of Pechersk, grave - digger on the site lavra.ua