Archbishop
Saint Theophilus, Archbishop of Novgorod, was elected by lot after the death of Saint Jonah and was elevated to the rank of archbishop on December 15, 1472, in Moscow. Before his elevation, he served as a sacristan in the Oten Monastery. During his administration over the Novgorod flock, disturbances arose, incited by the townsfolk Marfa Boretskaya and the monk Pimen. Saint Theophilus sought to calm the people, warning them about the dangers of apostasy. In 1480, he was sent into exile by Ivan III to the Chudov Monastery, where he spent a year and a half and passed away. In a dream, he was visited by Saint Niphont, reminding him of the promise to venerate the Pechersk miracle-workers. Although he would not reach the caves, his body would rest within them, which indeed came to pass.
