There is a story of a miraculous event that occurred during the tenure of St. Pimen as abbot. This narrative is conventionally called “The Tale of Onisifor.”

At the time of the venerable Abbot Pimen, St. Onisifor was already an elder of great age. The account states:

“I shall reveal to you, brother, yet another reason why I revere St. Anthony and St. Theodosius. I heard a wondrous tale from the blessed elders of the Caves, who claimed to have learned it from eyewitnesses of the miracle that took place in the Pechersk Monastery during the abbacy of Pimen. There was a man perfect in all virtues, named Onisifor, a presbyter by rank, who, by God’s grace, was clairvoyant and could see any man’s sins. Many of his ascetic feats are recounted, but I will tell you of one.

This blessed Onisifor had a spiritual son, a monk, whom he loved as a friend. This monk deceitfully imitated the life of the saint, pretending to be ascetic and chaste while secretly eating, drinking, and squandering his life in sin. This was hidden from the spiritual elder, and none of the brethren knew it.

One day, the wicked monk suddenly died while still in good health. The stench emanating from him was so foul that no one could approach his body. All were horrified, and he was barely carried out, though it was impossible to conduct the funeral service nearby due to the odour. His body was placed at a distance, and the service was performed from afar, with some monks holding their noses. His body was then buried in the cave, but the stench was so overwhelming that even animals fled from it. At times, bitter cries were heard, as if the deceased were being tormented.

St. Anthony appeared to Onisifor and sternly reproached him: ‘Why have you acted this way? You have placed here someone so foul, impure, lawless, and sinful, defiling this holy place.’

When the vision ended, Onisifor fell to his knees and prayed to God: ‘Lord, why did You hide the deeds of this man from me?’ An angel appeared and answered: ‘To serve as a lesson for all sinners and the unrepentant, that they might see and repent.’ After saying this, the angel vanished. Onisifor told the abbot everything.

The next night, he again heard: ‘Hurry and cast him out to be devoured by dogs, for he is unworthy to remain here!’ Onisifor once again prayed fervently. Then he heard a voice saying: ‘If you wish, you may help him.’

After consulting with the abbot, it was decided to have someone remove the wicked man’s body and cast it into the water, for none could voluntarily approach the cave. However, St. Anthony appeared again and said: ‘I have taken pity on the soul of this brother because I cannot break the vow I made to you: that all who lie here, even if sinners, will be forgiven. Those who rest with me in this cave are no lesser than the righteous of the Old Testament or those pleasing to God under the New Covenant. I prayed to the Lord that none from our monastery would be condemned to hellfire. The Lord answered and heard His words: “I declared to Abraham that I would spare an entire city for the sake of twenty righteous men. All the more, I will save and have mercy on a sinner for your and your companions’ sake. Whoever finds their end here will obtain rest, receiving forgiveness through your prayers.”‘

Onisifor relayed all he had seen and heard to the abbot and the brethren. Later, I met one of them, who told me about the ascetics of earlier times. Abbot Pimen, greatly troubled by the terrifying event, prayed to God with tears for the salvation of the monk’s soul. He was granted a vision in which God said: ‘Many sinners have already been buried here, but for the sake of the saints who pleased Me and lie in this cave, they are all forgiven. By the prayers of My servants Anthony and Theodosius and the holy monks who laboured with them, I have had mercy on this wretched soul. Here is a sign for you: the stench will disappear, and a fragrance will appear.’

The abbot gathered all the brethren, described the vision, and went with them to the cave to see the fulfilment of God’s promise. There, they all smelled a sweet fragrance instead of the foul odour, and the cries had ceased. Rejoicing in the heavenly aroma, they glorified God and His saints.”