The princely massacre of the monks Basil and Theodore of the Caves (the canonical-legal side of the act)

The end of the 11th century became one of the most dramatic periods in the history of the Kiev Caves Monastery. The monastery was desecrated several times by representatives of the ruling princely family, and three of its monks died. In the present article, an attempt is made to consider from the standpoint of law and canonical norms of its time the events associated with the death of two monks: Theodore and Basil. The reason for the conflict was the denunciation that the monk Theodore found the treasure and hid the find without informing the prince about it. An analysis of the situation described in the patericon story allows us to conclude that the claims of Mstislav, the brother of the Grand Duke, to the hermit were not unfounded. However, there is no doubt that the interrogation turned out to be too cruel, and the tormentors of the monks did not believe the sincerity of their answers. It is precisely this circumstance that does not allow us to recognize the correctness of Prince Mstislav. Nevertheless, it is just as obvious that by concealing the fact of finding the treasure, the monk Theodore committed an offense that contradicted the norms of law in Russia and Byzantium.