Miracle at the Caves Monastery

Life

Two friends, John and Sergius, swore brotherhood before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in that monastery. John was a wealthy man and had a five-year-old son Zacharias. John fell ill and before his death entrusted his son to Sergius's care, and left Sergius a considerable amount of silver and gold to keep, with the stipulation that he should hand it over to Zacharias when he came of age. But when Zacharias came of age, Sergius denied having received anything from the deceased John. Then Zacharias said to him: let him swear before that same icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, before which he had sworn brotherhood with his late father, that he had received nothing from John, and then nothing would be demanded of him. Sergius agreed. But when he swore the oath and tried to approach to kiss the icon, some force held him back and would not permit it. Then suddenly he began to cry out demoniacally: "Holy fathers Anthony and Theodosius, do not let this merciless angel destroy me!" For a demon had attacked him by God's permission. He then revealed all the money that John had left. But when they opened it, they found the sum doubled. That sum was doubled by God's Providence. Having received the money, Zacharias gave it to the monastery, himself took monastic tonsure there, lived for a long time, was deemed worthy of great gifts of God, and departed in peace to eternity.