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Nilus of Erikoussa

A member of the royal family of Emperor Theodore I Lascaris, Saint Theodore rejected the political and religious pressure of the Latin interlopers ushered into power by the Crusaders by becoming a monk and retreating into the wilderness. After being formed in the monastic life at the Monastery of the Sleepless Ones (Akoimetoi), he took on the extreme ascesis of the wandering pilgrim, traveling most especially to the Holy Places in Palestine, Mt. Sinai, and throughout Greece. When, along the way, he settled for a time in a particular location, it was always in an inhospitable place infested with demons. There he would wage unceasing battle against the natural conditions, his flesh, and the demons which he drove away by his prayer and patient endurance. He was especially known for restoring the 7th Century Monastery of the Giromerion where he found a miraculous icon of the Theotokos Hodigitria (She who shows the way – pointing to the Christ Child) which had been preserved from the time of the Iconoclast Heresy. As the keeper of this icon of the Champion Leader and her Son, Saint Nilus was all the more terrible to the enemies of mankind who could not bear to remain in his presence.

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Hieromartyr Marcellus, Bishop of Apamea

When the Emperor Theodosius ordered the destruction of pagan temples throughout the empire, Saint Marcellus set about the work with divine zeal, pulling down shrines and building churches on their ruins to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity. One temple, however, the Temple of Jupiter resisted all such efforts because the demon who dwelt there and accepted the worship of the Romans refused to be driven out. Filled with the spirit and power of the Prophet Elijah, the holy Bishop had three column of the colonnade uncovered, piled wood around the bases of them, had the wood covered with water, and then called on the lord to reveal Himself by fire. Like with the prophet of old, fire descended from heaven and set the bushels alight. Not long after the whole of the temple collapsed under the weight of Divine Judgment. Sometime later, Saint Marcellus, the scourge of demons, was set upon and martyred as he was overseeing the destruction of yet another pagan temple dedicated to idol worship.

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Theodora of Sihla

Married but unable to bear children, Saint Theodora and her husband entered a monastery in Moldavia. Not long after, however, the Turks invaded and she fled into the mountains with her Spiritual Mother. Dwelling in the wilderness, they showed manly courage battling both the conditions and the demons which never ceased to assault them. Emerging victorious over the passions and the adversary, she lived life as a new Mary of Egypt, dedicated to the Jesus Prayer. She spent her nights in prayer and her days in fasting, drinking only rainwater that gathered in the cleft of a rock that miraculously flowed like a spring. The Turkish scourge continued to ravage the region, and she gave up her cell to other nuns that had been driven from their monastery as well. Seeing this as a chance to regain some ground, the demons renewed their attacks, but they proved as powerless as before, unable to even get the attention of the athlete of Christ who treated them with utter disdain. Similar to her Egyptian predecessor, she was discovered by two monks that had been guided to her retreat by a pillar of light. Asking for a cloak to cover her nakedness, she greeted the men and begged for them to send a priest to her with the Holy Gifts. After receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, she departed this life in peace, her body giving off the fragrance of paradise.

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Basil the Blessed, Fool for Christ and Wonderworker of Moscow

An ascetic from his early childhood, Saint Basil the Blessed took upon himself the peculiar ascesis of a Fool for Christ which, by God’s grace, experienced a flowering in 16th Century Russia. The most famous of these ascetics in that land, many of the most characteristic behaviors associated with that way of life were present in the life of the saint. For example, when passing the dwellings of those who lives in repentance and holiness, he cast stones at the corners of the houses. He explained that, because demons were not welcome in such homes, they congregated outside searching for a way in. Pelted by the Saint’s prayers symbolized by the rocks, they were driven away from those homes.

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Translation of the Relics of Stephen the Protomartyr

The Holy Protomartyr Stephen appeared to the Priest Lucian to reveal the location of his relics which had been lost. First, they were translated to the Church of Holy Sion in Jerusalem in the year 415 with many miracles attending the event. Later, they were translated to the Imperial city of Constantinople, once again, accompanied by signs and wonders. One such event was the casting out of some demons that were hiding amongst the waves of the sea in Chalcedon. When the relics passed by, the demons cried out that they were being burned by the fire of the uncreated light which radiated out from the holy relics.

Hymnography
With the light of the Spirit, thou shonest brilliantly, and with the only true wisdom, thou wast exalted, O Saint; wherefore thou didst drive away the darkness of the Jews, and didst hurl down our common foe as an athlete in the fray; hence, thou art the crown of Martyrs. Now intercede with the Lord God that He may show His mercy to our souls.
(Sessional Hymn, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)

Thou hast appeared unto the world like a beautiful daybreak, O glorious Stephen, driving off the gloom, chasing away demonic specters, and healing the sufferings of the sick and the sores of spiritual maladies, O inspired of God.
(Ode Five, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)

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Thomas of Mount Maleon

A celebrated general in the world, Saint Thomas left behind his accolades and plaudits to enlist in the army of the Lord as a monastic. Patterning himself after the Elijah the Tishbite, he was guided by the Holy Prophet and his chariot of fire to Mount Maleon where he immersed himself in the ascetic life. Standing like a fiery in pillar in prayer, the Lord illumined him with the uncreated light which burnt away the passions in the Saint and drove off the demons that had infested the countryside. Even after death he continued to provide healing of both soul and body for those who venerated his relics by means of a fragrant myrrh that flowed from his tomb.

Hymnography
We know thee truly to be a divinely shining light that maketh bright the whole world with clear spiritual splendors, cutting through the gloom of the wicked distress and confusion which demons wreak; wherefore, O blest Father Thomas, we celebrate thy bright memory with fervent faith.
(Lord, I have cried, First Troparion; Vespers)

Thou wast eminent in life, O Father, winning innumerable trophies against the barbarians; and becoming a monk in all righteousness, thou didst sorely wound the troops of demons.
(Ode One, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)

Wrestling with the enemy in thine asceticism, O righteous Thomas, with the Divine Spirit as ally thou broughtest him low, and thou hast received from Heaven the crown of victory.
(Ode One, Doxastikon; Orthros Canon)

By the power of Christ supplying sight to the blind, swiftness to the lame, deliverance to the possessed, and healing to the sick, O Father Thomas, thou didst cry: Blessed art Thou, the God of our Fathers.
(Ode Seven, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)

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Martyr Agrippina

Living the life of an angel in the flesh, Saint Agrippina devoted herself to purity and virginity seeing it as a foretaste of the delights of heaven. As such, she shone forth like a beacon light in Old Rome, and drew other women – both young and old – who hoped to imitate her way of life. The hatred of the pagans being aroused, they denounced her to the local authorities during Valerian’s persecution accusing her of rebellion against the state by way of refusing marriage and deceiving others to do the same. Appearing before the tribunal she said that she and her followers had indeed been betrothed, but it was to the heavenly Bridegroom. Beaten, stripped, and left to rot in chains, she was completely healed by angels. Fearful of her influence spreading, the authorities had her executed shortly thereafter, leaving her body in a field to be consumed by beasts. Her spiritual sisters, however, recovered the holy relics and transported them to Menes in Sicily, guided all the while by a pillar of fire as Israel of old. Her sweet-scented presence immediately drove out the demons of that place whom the locals worshipped as gods, the darkness of error being thereby dispersed. Her relics continued to work miracles of healing and deliverance for all those who venerated them with faith.

Hymnography
Christ our God doth give thee as most precious treasure to Sicily, who hadst striven in Rome for Him, O Martyr of Great renown; and in Rome abiding, thou dost drive away the dark demons’ vile and wicked throng by thine unceasing protection and thy care. And for this cause, O much-contending Agrippina, we call thee blest, and we celebrate on this day thy great contests in holiness.
(Lord, I have cried, Second Troparion; Vespers)

As Sicily receiveth the holy Martyr’s body, which hath flashed forth from Rome like a never-setting sun, it is delivered from the gloomy terror of demons.
(Ode Six, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)

The swords of the enemy were utterly enfeebled against thee, O Agrippina; and like cities without foundations, thou didst pull down his audacity with the bar of thy glorious contests.
(Ode Six, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)

Night became as day for them that carried away thy relics, O Martyr; and when a place filled with sweet fragrance received thee, the array of the demons was mightily driven away and a flood of healings flowed forth unto them that supremely exalt Christ unto the ages.
(Ode Eight, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)

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Hypatius, Abbot of the Monastery of the Rufinianes

Escaping his home after a particularly intense beating from his earthly father, Saint Hypatius fled into the arms of his heavenly Father and became a monk. His experience in turning attacks meant for evil into good came became a path to salvation for his monks as the community was continually forced to endure invasions by the Huns and the Goths. Finally turning towards the protection of the Imperial City, he found the Monastery of the Rufinianes in a dilapidated state after being abandoned by its original inhabitants who had returned to Egypt. Moreover, it had become infested by demons who sought to claim for themselves a place that had previously been dedicated to the Lord. Upon his arrival, Saint Hypatius drove away the demons by his prayerful rebuke and settled his monks there. They labored intensely to scratch out a life, but they turned their deprivation into ascesis. Eventually, the Devil saw an opportunity to disrupt the way of life that so scorched him, and he caused a quarrel between the Saint and Timothy, one of his original companions that journeyed with him to Constantinople. In imitation of the Patriarch Abraham in the dispute with his nephew, Lot, Saint Hypatius humbled himself and withdrew to his former monastery. When the elder there became ill, he called the Saint and Timothy to him and exhorted them to be reconciled as the Apostles had done when they quarreled. They exchanged mutual forgiveness, overcoming the Evil One by obedience and love, and Hypatius was elected as abbot of the monastery.

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Stephen of Komel

When he was a child, Saint Stephen was so enamored of the ascetic life that he left his home in secret to become a monk. Having made steady progress, he wanted to find a place suitable for the eremetic life. He found it in the forrest on the banks of Lake Komel. Like many deserted places, he found the spot infested by demons who put him to trial. The Saint, however, saw them off through the spiritual discipline of fasting. By God’s grace, he was also protected from attacks by wild beasts that the demons stirred up against him when they realized they could not themselves come near him because of his humility.

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Arsenius of Konevets

A Russian monastic who was always looking to deepen his experience of hesychia, Saint Arsenius left for the Holy Mountain with a group of Athonite monks who had visited his monastery. Having arrived in the garden of the Theotokos, like a new Publica, he regarded himself as the least worthy of all who had ever set foot there. This deep and sincere humility led him ever more deeply into repentance, passing every night in prayer. Having richly inherited the phronema of Athos, he decided to return to his country and found a monastery dedicated to the Mother of God there. After receiving the blessing of his Archbishop, he located a place well suited for the ascetic life – the abandoned island of Konevets on Lake Ladoga. On the island he found a ruined pagan shrine that was infested by demons, but they fled at his rebuke not being able to withstand the fire of his humility. The monastery was firmly established, and many monks came to join him there.