This righteous man had a weak physical constitution since his birth, and throughout his life he suffered from many ailments that affected various parts of his body, but they could not affect the strength or nobility of his soul. Rather, they gave him the opportunity to keep the vessel of his soul pure and clean, not corrupted by passions or defiled by vices.
Since his early childhood, Pimen had wanted to become a monk, but his family opposed him and resisted his desire in every way. One day, when his illness became so severe that he was on the verge of death, his family decided to take him to the Lavra Monastery in Kiev, where they lived, in the hope that he would be healed by the prayers of the monastery’s monks. As for the saint, knowing full well, in his heart, that if he recovered, his family would once again banish him from the monastery, and that he would never again be able to visit it or become one of its monks, he began to pray fervently that God would not grant him the grace of healing. The Lord answered his request, since all the prayers of the fathers were of no avail, so his family was forced to leave him in the monastery in the hope that God would have mercy on him one day and grant him healing and recovery.
One night, while everyone was asleep, a group of angels appeared to Pimen in the form of the abbot and the monastic brothers, saying to him: “Do not be afraid, the illnesses you are suffering from are for your good and salvation and may His holy name be glorified through you. But you will not be completely healed until just one night before your repose.” Then they dressed him in monastic garb and he was adorned with the holy schema with a solemn ceremony and was given the name Pimen. After that, they gave him a single candle and told him to leave it lit for 40 days and 40 nights.
The monks woke up to the sounds of hymns and chants coming from the sick man's cell. They rushed to see what was happening, and they saw the sick invalid wearing monastic clothes, and the cell still smelled of sweet perfume. They confirmed the authenticity of his consecration when they found his secular clothes and his cut hair placed on the tomb of St. Theodosius (founder of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev) in the church. After this strange event, Pimen was able to remain in the monastery with the approval of the abbot.
For many years, Pimen suffered from serious illnesses, suffering terrible pains that made the brothers despair of his recovery and often complain about serving and caring for him. They would leave him many times, for several days, without providing him with the necessary food or drink... They also put another sick brother with him in his cell. Since they were both complaining about the lack of provision for their daily needs, Pimen asked his sick companion if he would accept to serve him if he was granted complete health. The monk accepted his offer with great joy. Then, this monk recovered after a few days, through the prayers of the righteous Pimen.
This brother kept his promise to provide the necessary assistance to Bayman, but he too soon began to become impatient and irritated with Bayman's many illnesses. So he left him as the others did and went to live in another cell. By divine providence, he fell bedridden again, afflicted with a serious illness that caused him to suffer from a constant thirst that could never be quenched.
The monks told the righteous Paul about the brother’s condition, and he replied: “Whatever we sow, that will we also reap” (Galatians 6:7). But his compassion and love for the brother overcame the reciprocal evil, so he asked to see the sick man. As soon as the latter got up from his bed, he felt better and was completely cured. He ran to ask forgiveness from the saint, who said to him: “Know, my brother, that those who care for the poor with joy and serve the sick with patience will receive the reward of their labors in eternal life, and will not pass into death or see corruption.” Then he added that he had endured all the difficulties of his illnesses and severe pains with joy without asking God for healing, because of his complete trust in the promise of the Lord who said: “By your patience you will possess your souls” (Luke 21:19). So he hopes to receive in return for these efforts comfort in the life to come where all sorrow and pain will be gone. Since then, this monk has never left Saint Poemen, and like another Job, he never ceases to thank God in every trial or hardship he faces.
Despite his hardships, Pimen lived in the monastery for 20 years in inner peace and tranquility. On the night of his departure, three columns of light were seen overshadowing the church and the dining room. The next morning, the saint was found in good health. He began to move around the monastery, visiting the brethren in their cells, healing the sick among them. Then he entered the church, where he participated in the Divine Liturgy and received the Holy Mysteries. After that, he went with some brethren to visit the cave of St. Anthony (the first founder of the Monastery of the Caves) in Kiev to receive a blessing from it and he determined the place where he wanted to be buried. Then he looked at the brethren and said, praising and singing: “Here come those who dressed me in monastic garb to take my soul.” Having said this, he stretched out on his bed and laid himself down in peace, that faithful soul with the unfailing hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. The fathers of the monastery have decreed that his feast be celebrated on August 7, the day of his repose. Through his prayers, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Prepared by the nuns of Saint Jacob Monastery - Deddah
From the book The Monastery of the Caves (in Greek)
