While living a monastic life in the Pechersk Monastery, Saint Titus was honoured with the rank of presbyter and was guided toward labours worthy of the blessedness of the saints. The following event happened to him.

This blessed presbyter, Titus, had a spiritual brother, a fellow monk of the same monastery named Evagrius, a deacon. The blessed presbyter Titus shared a deep and sincere friendship with him, to such an extent that all marvelled at their unity and mutual affection.

However, the enemy, the hater of good, who usually sows tares among the wheat (Matt. 13:25), sowed enmity between them, filling them with such malice and hatred that they could not even look at each other and did everything to avoid one another. When one of them walked through the church with a censer, the other would flee from the incense; if he did not step away, the first would pass by without censing him. For a long time, they remained in this great spiritual darkness, daring to offer the Divine Gifts and partake of Communion without reconciling with each other or receiving forgiveness—so had the enemy incited them. The brethren repeatedly entreated them to make peace, but they refused even to listen.

One day, according to God’s providence, the blessed presbyter Titus fell gravely ill and despaired of his life. Then, deeply grieving over his sin, he sent a message to Deacon Evagrius with great contrition, saying: “Forgive me, brother, for God’s sake, for I have offended you with my anger!” But Evagrius not only refused to forgive him but also cursed him with harsh words. Seeing that Titus was near death, the brethren forcibly brought Evagrius to bid farewell to his brother. Upon seeing him, the ailing Titus lifted himself up, fell at his feet, and, weeping, said: “Forgive me, Father, and bless me.” Yet Evagrius, being unmerciful and heartless, turned away from his brother and, in front of everyone, uttered these cruel words: “I will never forgive him—neither in this life nor in the next!” Having said this, he tore himself from the brethren’s grasp and fell to the ground. The brethren attempted to lift him, but they found him lifeless; his body was stiff, his eyes open, his mouth gaping, and his hands outstretched as if he had been long dead. At that exact moment, the ailing presbyter Titus rose up completely healed, as though he had never been sick.

Terror seized everyone at the sudden death of Evagrius and the immediate healing of Titus. The brethren questioned the blessed presbyter about what had happened, and he told them in detail what had been revealed to him. “When I was gravely ill,” he said, “and filled with anger, I saw angels who withdrew from me, weeping for the destruction of my soul, while demons rejoiced over my malice. That is why I pleaded with you to bring my brother to me so that I might receive forgiveness. When you brought him and I bowed before him, but he turned away from me, I saw a fearsome angel holding a fiery spear, who struck the unforgiving man, causing him to fall dead. Then that same angel extended his hand to me and raised me up, and behold, I am now well.”

The brethren, filled with fear, mourned bitterly for Evagrius, who had died such a terrible death, and they buried him with his eyes and mouth open and his arms outstretched. From that time on, they were exceedingly vigilant in guarding themselves against enmity, always seeking to forgive one another if anyone had a grievance (Col. 3:13). They also remembered, after Evagrius’s punishment, the words of the Lord: “Whoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of judgment” (Matt. 5:22), as well as the words of Saint Ephraim: “If someone dies in enmity, he will face an unyielding judgment.” Concerning these brethren who were taught a lesson, it could be said: “Great peace have those who love Your law” (Ps. 118:165).

But above all, this blessed presbyter Titus, seeing that because he sought peace with his brother, he had found peace with God Himself and was preserved by Him from both physical and spiritual death, never again succumbed to enmity. Instead, he diligently eradicated it from himself and acquired an unceasing love for all his brethren—a love that is the bond of perfection (Col. 3:14), the root of peace, a love of pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith; a love that is patient, merciful, free from envy, and encompassing all other virtues, especially chastity, fasting, and constant prayer (1 Cor. 13:4). Thus, when offering his presbyterial sacrifices, he continually recalled the Gospel teaching that loving God and one’s neighbour is greater than all burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:33). He attained perfect peace, and for his love of peace, the venerable Titus was granted eternal rest in Heaven, where he reposed in the Lord after his great labors, pleasing to God.

The relics of Saint Titus rest in the Near Caves, where they have been marked on maps since 1638, along with the mention of his priestly rank.

The separate commemoration of Venerable Titus has been celebrated from ancient times on March 12 (February 27, Old Style).