Kuksha of Odessa - Kiev Pechersk Lavra (1913-1935)

Kiev Pechersk Lavra (1913-1935)

In 1913 Xenophont settled in Kiev Pechersk Lavra. During World War I (in 1914) father Xenophont and other monks worked as a "mercy brother" on the sanitary train on the line Kiev - Lvov for 10 months, then he returned to the Lavra. There he served in Far Caves, kindled the lamps at the relics, redressed the holy relics, kept cleanness and order. He had an ardent desire to enter schema but was refused being only 40. So once at night having redressed the relics of Saint Siluan Xenophont took them in hands at kneeling next to his shrine he ardently prayed so that Saint Siluan would help him with tonsure in schema. And so Xenophont fell asleep by the morning, kneeling and keeping the relics in his hands.