Before becoming a Bishop, the great interpreter of the Holy Scriptures established a monastery in Palestine, the land of his birth. However, the village and even some of those who lived the angelic life under his guidance, were tormented by demons. Thanks to his gift of clear sight, Saint Epiphanius drove them out by calling on the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Later, by the same means, he cast out a demon from a man in the presence of a philosopher from Edessa with whom he had been debating. Seeing this miracle this philosopher abandoned the worldly wisdom of the Greeks for heavenly wisdom, was baptized, became a monk, and eventually was named the saint’s successor as abbot of the community.
Hymnography
Thy most godly life, O Father, and thine Orthodox mind and heart, in their concord, enabled thee to work signs and miracles through thine intercessions, and to drive the brazen assaults of the demons far away and end the pains of demons hard to cure. And thou wast fair adorned with the exalted grave of hierarchy by Christ Jesus, the Friend of man, the divine Saviour of our souls.
(Third troparia of Saint Epiphanius; Lord, I have cried)
Although thou, as an offspring of Judaic worship, hadst been obedient to the Mosaic laws, yet the grace of Christ, which shone forth in thee, O Father Epiphanius, clearly made thee a disciple of the Gospel of Peace. Thereupon, perceiving in thy wisdom the fulfillment of the two Testaments, thou didst pass over from servitude unto freedom. Wherefore, make entreaty in our behalf, that we be delivered from the tyranny of the enemy, and that our souls be saved
(Doxastikon of Saint Epiphanius; Lord, I have cried)
Evading the empty and paltry glory of men, thou madest thy dwelling in the wilderness as thy Master did, and wisely wentest forth to temptations like the Master’s, having thine infirmity invisibly strengthened for wrestling against demons.
(Ode Five, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
When the evil spirit was cast out, it troubled the ruler of the Assyrians, but became a herald of thy virtue and divine grace, O Father; for God knoweth to glorify them that glorify Him.
(Ode Six, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Author: Fr A
Martyr Nicolas the New of Vouneni
A commander in the army of Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Wise, Saint Nicolas was sent to guard the town of Larissa. Under threat of invasion by Arab military attachments who were ravaging the outskirts of the empire, he ordered the evacuation of the city and retreated into the mountains to a skete of ascetics with 14 faithful companions. After devoting themselves to prayer and fasting, they were warned by an angel to prepare to offer their lives to the Lord as His martyrs. They were eventually overrun, captured and tortured by their enemies, and all but Saint Nicolas were martyred. Having survived this initial ordeal, he found and dwelt in a cave wherein he lived the hesychast life to prepare to join his friends in martyrdom. As a result of his ascetic efforts he overcame the passions and the assaults of the demons who attempted to put him off his purpose. Having won the spiritual victory, he eventually carried off the crown martyrdom at the hands of the same barbarians had been searching for him since his escape.
Great Martyr Christopher
As a part of his suffering and martyrdom at the hands of the Emperor Decius, Saint Christopher was placed into a bronze brazier over a fire. From within the furnace, the great martyr was granted a vision of one like a son of man, shining like the sun, accompanied by a great host with faces all aflame. He saw this irresistible force assailing and demolishing a massive horde of demons that could not stand before them. The saint interpreted this as a spiritual and cosmic fulfillment of the truth revealed to Gehazi by Elisha when they were surrounded by the Syrian army that “those who are with us are greater than those who are with them” (4 Kingdoms 6:16). Therefore, he knew, and through him we know, that despite our circumstances, the Lord is always ultimately victorious over the works of the evil one.
Hymnography
Come, let us honor the contests of godly Christopher; from his triumphant struggles never-failing grace floweth forth to us from Christ, the Bestower of Life. For he mightily quelled the foes; and as the prize, he was given authority over passions, demons, and all pain.
(First Troparia of the Martyr; Lord, I have cried)
Casting off the deep darkness of ignorance and receiving the knowledge of piety, thou troddest the serpent down, that first author of wickedness. Since, O Martyr, thy mind was aflame with desire for God, though didst quench the ungodly conceit of idolatry. Wherefore, as is fitting, in return for thy conflicts, thou now hast received a crown, and thou grantest unfailing cures, O much-suffering Christopher. Intercede with Christ our God that forgiveness of all their transgressions be granted to them that with longing keep thy holy memory.
(Doxasticon of the Martyr; Sessional hymns of Orthros)
Tarasius of Lycaonia, the Wonderworker
Seeking the Lord from his childhood through fasting, prayer, vigils, and tears, Saint Tarasius offered himself to God as a living sacrifice and was thus granted the grace to work miracles. Through this gift he was able to cast out demons by his prayers amongst other wondrous signs of God’s care for the faithful.
Arsenius the Great
Born of a noble family and renowned for his learning, even after devoting himself to obtaining spiritual knowledge above all, Saint Arsenius found himself at the heart of society as the tutor for Emperor of the East, Theodosius the Great’s, children. Resisting the temptations afforded by such a privileged position, one night Arsenius heard a voice from heaving telling him to flee the company of men in order to be saved. He immediately left for the Egyptian desert where he joined the anchorite community at Scetis and began living in solitude some 30 miles from the church. After begging God for more guidance, he heard yet another voice telling him to flee conversation and remain in silence in order to be saved. From this he understood that, while possible for some, it was not possible for him to live with both God and men and keep his nous focused on the Lord. In his silence and solitude, he was assailed by the demons who incessantly brought to mind thoughts of his past life. The holy hermit, however, thwarted their attacks by always asking God for the grace to begin anew and by prolonged perseverance in the life to which God had called him.
Hymnography
O Righteous Father Arsenius, into all the earth hath the sound of thine achievements gone forth; wherefore thou hast found in the Heavens the reward of thy labors. Thou didst destroy the ranks of demons; thou didst attain to the orders of the Angels, whose life thou didst emulate without blame. Since thou hast boldness with Christ God, pray that peace be granted unto our souls.
(First Troparion of Saint Arsenius; The Entreaty at Great Vespers)
Receiving succor from God because of thy contrite heart, O Father Arsenius, thou didst dash down the attacks of hostile and unclean spirits and didst bear away the trophy through thy humility.
(Ode Three, Second Troparion of the Righteous One; Orthros Canon)
Knowing well the enemy’s cunning, O Father, in thy godliness thou didst reject him that mediated the first transgression of first-formed Adam. Therefore, while dancing for joy in the immaculate meadow of delight, make entreaty unto Christ the Master.
(Ode Five, First Troparion of the Righteous One; Orthros Canon)
John of Zedazneni
An accomplished ascetic, wonderworker, and hermit from the region of Antioch, Saint John was sent by the Theotokos to Georgia along with twelve disciples chosen with the help of angels to the further establish the Faith their and provide a foundation for the monastic life. Once in Georgia, the Lord revealed a cave on Mount Zaden where the saint was to do battle with the demons. Formerly a stronghold of idolatry, Saint John assaulted and broke the power of the enemy with superhuman feats of fasting and night prayer. The demons fled in terror, and the mountain became a beacon giving light to the whole country. Routed but not willing to utterly abandon their former stronghold, the demons mounted assault after assault on the man of God, hoping to regain a foothold, but the saint held off their every attack like a bulwark. As a result, the monastic life took root and began to bear fruit as Saint John sent out his disciples as missionaries whom he taught to preach like the apostles. They too were granted power to tread on serpents and scorpions and to expose and dismantle all the Devil’s devices. Even at the end of his life, Saint John was continually aware that, without God’s grace sustaining him, the Devil would attempt to sift him like wheat as a new Peter. Victorious to the end, a great number of saints and angels appeared to escort his soul to Paradise.
Seraphim of Dombos
Fleeing his reputation as a wonderworker and physician of souls that brought him endless streams of visitors, Saint Seraphim moved constantly establishing new communities of monastics wherever he went. After having resolved to stay in a specific place, the Mother of God appeared to him explaining that his current location was ill-suited to his purposes and instructing him to return to one of his previous stops to establish a permanent settlement. He obeyed immediately, a virtue he had consciously cultivated since he entered the monastery, and set to work. When the crowds returned, he was granted the particular gift of helping those possessed by demons, freeing them through prayer and fasting.
Righteous Job the Long-Suffering
In the Old Testament book that bears his Name, the Lord holds up Job to Satan as a uniquely faithful servant in his time. The accuser, hoping to add the righteous one to his rebellion, challenges God to withdraw his hand of protection so that the he can strike his possessions, family, and his health. The enemy of mankind asserts that if the Lord allowed this, that Job would respond by cursing him. God permits Satan to proceed so that his glory and righteousness can be revealed through his servant. Having lost all but his life, Job goes into mourning failing to understand why these things have befallen him. Hearing of his misfortunes, Job’s friends come to mourn and speak with him. They suggest that he is being punished for some sin that he has committed in the past, but Job is unaware of anything for which he needs to repent. The friends then accuse him of trying to justify and declare himself righteous over and against God’s judgment. The righteous one denies this as well explaining that, even if he was not aware of anything for which he could reproach himself, he could still not justify himself before God for no one is righteous before Him. Finding no consolation from his friends but only further torment, Job asks to be judged by God directly. The Lord responds by speaking directly to him describing his creation of all things as well as his care and rule over the smallest of details, including Job’s trials which were not allowed as a punishment but to reveal God’s righteousness. Having realized that his very suffering constituted a revelation of the incomprehensibility of the unfathomable God, Job confesses that in the past he had heard about the Lord, but that now, seeing Him, he truly regards himself as just dust and ashes. As such, he intercedes that his friends be forgiven of their sins. In response to his humility and trust, the Lord restores Job, giving Him more blessings than he had previously received. Thus, he triumphs over the wiles of the enemy by his humility and a true understanding of who he is and Who God is.
Hymnography
Thinking it would not be easy to overturn the just man while he was fenced about with wealth, the adversary requested him, and violently wrestling with him when he was naked, was himself cast down and broken; for through his patience, the just man cried out: Let us sing unto our God, for gloriously is He glorified.
(Ode One, Third Troparion, Orthros Canon)
Through a wife’s words the serpent, the author of evil, struck at thees he did to the author of our race; but he that boasted without measure was cheated of his villainy.
(Ode Three, Third Troparion, Orthros Canon)
Come, let us all bless Job, that pure and blameless man, who in the Spirit’s strength was an immovable and mighty pillar that stood firm before all the foe’s devices. Let us sing his praise in faith; he is truly a very great servant of our Savior Christ, and he pleaders in our behalf, imploring Christ with earnest entreaty to rescue our should from every peril.
(Sessional Hymn, Orthros Canon)
Having built an invincible stronghold for thy soul, O glorious one, thou didst courageously withstand the terrible billows of the enemy.
(Ode Five, Third Troparion, Orthros Canon)
The adversary of the just, though he smote thee with evil sores and stripped thee of thy goods, was not able to bow down the tenor of thy soul; but thou didst cry out in song: O God of our Fathers, blessed are Thou.
(Ode Seven, Third Troparion, Orthros Canon)
Job is worthily crowned with the splendor of patience, but thou, O Satan, dost lament and art dejected, unable to bear the crowning of the just man; for having cherished vain hopes, thou hast been put to shame, O thou who alone art utterly hostile to the just.
(Ode Nine, First Troparion, Orthros Canon)
Hilary the Wonderworker
Saint Hilary took up his cross to follow Christ in his youth, starting his battle against the passions as early as possible. Having subjected the flesh to the spirit, he was granted the grace to heal ailments of soul and body, delivering the faithful from illnesses and casting out demons. He was also able to overcome the order of nature by his prayer, calming storms, turning back rivers, making arid deserts fertile, and taming wild animals.
Theodosius, Abbot of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves
The founder of the coenobitic life in Russia, each Great Lent Saint Theodosius withdrew to the cave in which he began the ascetic life at the feet of Saint Antony (July 10th). There he prepared for the Feast of Feasts through fasting and prayer, by which he also overcame the repeated assaults of the demons. The holy abbot primarily taught the Faith through prayer, placing a special emphasis on caring for the poor. For his perseverance in prayer and charity, the Lord granted him the ability to cast out unclean spirits, heal the sick, and to know the hearts of those who came to him for help.