Venerable Polycarp, Abbot of the Kiev Caves

Life

Polycarp possessed "love toward God and neighbor, joy from an unblemished conscience, peace from the conquest of all passions, patience in temptations and afflictions, kindness in obedience to all, mercy toward the poor, unwavering faith in the fulfillment of the commandments, truth in the keeping of vows, meekness in not knowing anger, temperance, and so forth." So well did he govern the Kiev Caves Lavra that after his death no worthy successor could be found among the monks (for even those who were worthy, out of humility, would not accept the office of abbot), so that the brethren were compelled to take as abbot a secular priest, Basil. The holy Polycarp reposed in the Lord in the year 1182.