The Blessed Prince Nikola Svyatosha, from his youth, realized the impermanence of earthly rule and left worldly glory for the heavenly kingdom, taking monastic vows in the Pechersk Monastery in 1107. He shone with holiness, showing diligence in obedience, working in the kitchen for the brethren, and guarding the monastery gates. After three years of obedience, he took on the struggle of silence, arranging a garden near his cell and constantly laboring, not refusing fasting and prayer.
Nikola Svyatosha, despite the advice of the physician Peter, continued to live in strict abstinence, believing that fasting humbles the flesh and helps the soul. He distributed all that he received from his relatives to the needs of the church and to help the poor. The physician, seeing his suffering, tried to convince the prince to take care of his health, but he remained faithful to his choice.
When the physician fell ill, Nikola predicted his recovery if he refrained from taking medicine. The physician obeyed and recovered. The Blessed Prince, foreseeing his end, told the physician to take monastic vows and continue serving in the monastery. Nikola labored for another thirty years, achieving perfection in holy life, and departed to the Lord on October 14, 1143.
At his burial, all of Kyiv came to bid farewell to him, and especially the brothers Iziaslav and Vladimir mourned. Iziaslav, receiving a blessing from the igumen, was healed of his illness when he drank water from the Pechersk well, and from then on he always wore the hair shirt of Saint Nikola, which brought him health.
