Caught up in the fervor of persecution associated with Emperor Maximian’s birthday, Saint Bassa and her three sons were ordered to offer sacrifice and pour out libations to the Greek gods. Her husband, a pagan priest and thrall of the idols, turned them in when they refused to do so. Like the mother of the Maccabean martyrs, Saint Bassa encouraged her children to defeat the demons that had overtaken their father by patient endurance and by offering themselves completely to Christ who was waiting to receive them. By obeying their Mother they conquered the foe and received the martyr’s crown. Their mother joining them not too long after, first having dashed the idol of Zeus into a thousand pieces by her prayer.
Hymnography
Possessing an unhesitating mind, thou didst set out to wrestle with the wily adversary, and thou didst destroy him in the deep of thy blood.
(Ode Four, First Troparion of the Martyr; Orthros Canon)
With longing we call Bassa blessed, that dove that was guileless indeed, that turtle-dove that loved God, that swallow which escaped the winter and nets of demons, soared up with her godly younglings, and nested in the Heavens, in the spiritual dominion of God.
(Ode Nine, Fourth Troparion of the Martyr; Orthros Canon)
Category: Attack of Others
Indicates those saints who were assailed by demons by virtue of their attacks on others.
Elias the New of Sicily
A new Joseph the All-comely, Saint Elias was initiated into the Divine Council through dreams and visions. As such, he was able to accurately foretell future events, including his being taken as a slave to North Africa. There he was bought by a wealthy Christian merchant whose household was blessed due to the presence of the Saint. The Devil attempted to bring about his downfall by stoking lustful thoughts in his Master’s wife who continually tried to seduce him by her charms. When he firmly resisted all her advances, she was enraged and, like Potiphar’s wife, accused him of defiling her to her husband. Subjected to ill treatment, he endured patiently until the day the woman was caught in adultery. The truth of her character having been revealed, he was set free from slavery as a recompense. In another vision he was granted the grace of healing, and he traveled throughout Africa, Palestine, and the Mediterranean revealing the judgment of God and delivering people from illness. The Lord also granted him the grace to cast out demons, and he freed four men under torment by our invisible foes when he was forced to take refuge in Patras while on a journey to Rome. When asked how best to conquer our enemy, his advice was the same whether he was speaking to the lowest peasant or an Imperial General – sanctify the soul and deliverance will follow. By his answer he reinforced the reality that, except for a particular purpose of God, our physical condition often reflects our spiritual condition.
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.
Martyr Jerusalem
A disciple of the Holy Virgin Martyr Oraiozela, Saint Jerusalem made Christ Jesus her bridegroom and entered the monastic life. Living with the “beautiful zeal” of her Spiritual Mother (Oraiozela means “beautiful zeal”), the grace of the Lord shined from her face to the spiritual benefit of all who came into contact with her. Unable to bear such power, a demon influenced a group of pagans to abduct her for the purpose of forcing her to sacrifice to the local idols and be married. Imitating yet again Saint Oraiozela, Saint Jerusalem steadfastly refused to deny Christ or her calling despite the cruel tortures which they subjected her. When they saw that, by the grace of God, she was impervious to their machinations, she was beheaded and carried off the martyr’s crown.
Mother Eupraxia
A kinswoman of Theodosius the Great, Saint Eupraxia was betrothed at a young age to an eligible young man, the son of a prominent Senator. The young child, however, had no other desire but to consecrate herself to Christ Jesus, trading an earthly bridegroom for a heavenly one. Having set herself to this course, she had her mother take her to a monastery in the Thebaid where, despite warnings about the austerity of their way of life, she could not be persuaded and she was clothed in the monastic veil. She immediately arranged for all her possessions to be given to the poor and zealously launched herself into the ascetic life empowered by devotion to her true spouse and the grace that was poured out on her in return. Thus it was that through fasting, prayer, vigils, and obedience that she overcame a demonic assault of impure thoughts. Seeing that he could not overcome her in that manner, the Devil decided to assault her body. He caused her to fall into a well, but she was carried to safety by invoking the Name of the Lord. He caused her to wound herself in the heel with an axe, but she crushed his head under her foot through remaining always in the presence of the Lord through service to her sisters, even while injured. He caused her to injure her face near her eye, but her vision of the invisible creation remained pure and clear. Finally, she was subjected to calumny by an envious sister, but Saint Eupraxia fell down before her begging for her forgiveness. Later, when the unfortunate nun was cast from the monastery for her lies, the Saint interceded for her to be allowed to return to the sisterhood. The Devil having been utterly defeated by his foe, God granted Saint Eupraxia the power to cast out demons which she did by impassively striking people with the abbess’s staff (even those who were so severely possessed that no one else would approach them).
Stephen of Mar Sabas
Orphaned at a young age and raised by his uncle who was a monastic, St. Stephen began living the ascetic life near the Monastery of St. Sabas even before he took the veil. As such, when he did become a monk the brethren were so impressed by his obedience and renunciation that they began to treat him with a reverence that threatened his peace. In an attempt to preserve it, he asked to live as a hermit till the celebration of Pascha that year. Receiving a blessing, he withdrew into the wilderness where he engaged in continuous battle through prayer with the demons and his passions until Great and Holy Thursday when he returned to the monastery. Having returned, the monks treated him with an even greater awe, regarding his as an angel sent to them by God. At the same time, the demons suggested that, having advanced so far beyond his fellows, he ought to lessen his ascetic efforts. When he resisted, they attempted to crush him bodily under a large boulder. Hoping to avoid the shifting sands of prelest, he fled back to his hermitage where lived in solitude for 15 years. He continued the battle by standing in prayer for long hours, then making countless prostrations all built on the spiritual foundation of perpetually increasing fasting. By such labors he was given the grace to withstand that fierce assaults of the demons. He would never let himself be idle, always busying himself with the labor necessary for his survival. Eventually, he was discovered by a small group of men whom he allowed to become his disciples. Having been ordained a priest, he was regularly filled and surrounded by the uncreated light as he served. It radiated outwards from him, burning up the demons in the area. Having become a precious vessel of the Holy Spirit purged from all passions, he was given the gift of true prophecy and clear sight which he used to recognize and drive off a demon that had a possessed a young woman. Yet, for all of this, it was his humility and love for his disciples that shown through. When one of them came to confess that he was harboring blasphemous thoughts suggested by a demon, the Saint simply caused the man to place his hand on the back of his next as the High Priest did with the goat for Azazel on the Day of Atonement, and announced that he would answer for that sin on the Day of Judgment. After that, and by Saint Stephen’s prayer, the disciple was completely freed from all such temptation.
Michael Maleinus
A scion of a noble house related to the imperial family, Saint Michael was born after his parents received a vision of the Theotokos. Though he could have had a prosperous life at Court, he chose the monastic life instead. Quenching his parents’ anger with humility and hardening the softness of his heretofore privileged life through obedience, the Saint quickly became admired by his brethren for his zeal for the Faith and love of Christ. Eventually, he received a blessing to live as a hermit during the week and to return on the weekend to celebrate the resurrection with the community. In this way he advanced in the ascetic through prayer, fasting, and manual labor for his bread. After some years, he retired even further into the wilderness on two separate occasions until he found the solitude he desired to do unceasing battle against both the passions and the demons. Unable to hide his light that the Lord had set on a hill, a community gathered around until it became such that the locations was no longer suitable. He, therefore, led the new brotherhood back to place where he first started and laid the foundations of a new lavra dedicated to the Mother of God. As a Spiritual father, he constantly consoled those who came to him for aid, giving all that he owned in alms, but finding that, like the manna in the desert, his stores never ran out. His prayers were like a torrent of fire that burned the demons. Unable to bear this, they instigated an unstable monk to murder him. As he approached Saint Michael’s cell to carry out the deed, the Saint called out to him that he ought to come in and lay down his heavy and secret burden. When the monk entered he saw the engulfed in the flames of the uncreated light. The tormenting demons left him, and he immediately fell down to the ground confessing his sins. He counseled the monk to be watchful as he had been for the 50 years of his monastic life, never relaxing his rule of prayer.
Antony the God-Bearer, Founder of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves and the Father of Russian Monasticism
This first bright light of Russian Monasticism, Saint Antony received his formation at the Athonite Monastery of Esphigmenou, Sent back to his homeland by his Spiritual Father who had received a Divine Revelation about his future, the Saint founded a community around a cave in Kiev that reminded him of the Holy Mountain. The God-Bearer prayed that the blessing of Mount Athos would be given to the location and that it’s spirit would imbue their way of life. As the fame of the brotherhood spread, it wasn’t too long before the cave had to be expanded with additional cells, and a large wooden Church with a monastery be built to house the increasing number of monks. Ever desirous of the life of hesychia that had been delivered to him on Athos, Saint Antony appointed an abbot and withdrew to another nearby cave though he continued to act as their Spiritual Father. Ascending the heights of asceticism in his silence and solitude, God granted him the gifts of clear sight and healing. Poisonous plants were cleansed at his blessing and then used as tinctures that would cure people of their various diseases. He also ministered to spiritual ills, patiently nursing Saint Isaac the Recluse of the Kiev Caves back to health through the medicine of an ordered and obedient communal life after he had been tricked by the demons. Defeated by the faithful and steady hand of Saint Antony, the devil incited the Prince Iziaslav to drive him from his principality in hopes of reclaiming the monk. This plan, however, came to nothing as the Prince recovered his witts and re-called the Saint. That said, Saint Antony did use it as an occasion to redouble his ascetic efforts, his days and nights becoming a continuous struggle against the demons. His decisive victory made firm the foundation of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves he had founded as well as all of Russian Monasticism.
Hieromartyr Pancratius of Taormina
A direct disciple of the Apostle Peter, the Holy Hieromartyr became the scourge of idols and the demons who dwelt animated and dwelt within them. Traveling with the Prince of the Apostles on his missionary journeys, he was consecrated as Bishop of Taormina in Sicily. As soon as he stepped foot on those shores, the bloodthirsty demons that inhabited the idol of the local God, Falcon, cried out in terror and attempted to hide themselves. Hearing this, the Saint called on the Name of Christ Jesus and made the sign of the Cross with his staff, and the statue with its demons were hurled into the sea. Inspired by this miracle of deliverance, the locals quickly built a Church in the city. As Saint Pancratius celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church for the first time, all of the remaining idols in the city were utterly destroyed. Fearing this to be a sign of their god’s displeasure, the pagan priests began to inquire as to what was was required of them. A demon who called himself Lysson told them that they had been rendered completely powerless by the Most High God that Saint Pancratius had been proclaiming. Despairing, the pagans decided to sacrifice to a local official to strengthen their false gods. When Saint Pancratius had been warned about their plan, he went out to meet them vested as for the Divine Liturgy and holding a blessing cross. Blinded by the radiance of Christ that shone from the Hieromartyr, the pagan priests fell to the ground. The Saint ordered the demon Lysson into the abyss, and he killed a great serpent that had been feeding of the blood of human sacrifices with the invincible weapon of the Cross. Seeing that they could not face the Saint directly, the demons decided to attack others in an attempt to undermine their confidence in the God of Pancratius. They inspired a certain follower of the heretic Montanus to cast a spell on a young virgin with evil intent, but her faith having been strengthened by Hieromartyr’s teachings, it proved impotent. Ever a bane to the idols, when he threw down yet another pagan statue at a governmental banquet, the pagan priests threw themselves on the Bishop and beath him so severely that he received the martyr’s crown. Afterwards, a Church was built in his honor, and he remains the protector of the city to this day.
Hymnography
When thou by thy word hadst put to flight foul and wicked spirits of evil, then by the Good Spirit’s grace thou didst make men spiritual, O wise Pancratius; and on tilling the furrows of their hearts, O blest Martyr, thou didst sow the God-bestowed and saving seed in them; whom thou didst then offer to Christ God, the Celestial Husbandman, ever interceding for those praising thee with faith.
(Lord, I have cried, Second Troparion; Vespers)
Strengthened by the Spirit, thou didst cast out evil spirits; and levelling the temples of the idols with the bar of thy prayers, thou didst erect churches, O praiseworthy Pancratius.
(Ode Three, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thy life, shining bright as lightning with the divine beauty, cast into darkness the assaults of all demons; and dissolving the darkness of godlessness, thou madest those who with longing were obedient unto thy teachings to be sons of the day.
(Ode Four, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
With thy blood thou didst redden they sacred vestments and didst dry up demons’ gore, and thou wast taken up in triumph into the Heavens to receive the crown of victory.
(Ode Five, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
The truly unbreakable Rock set thee as a foundation and unbreakable support of the sacred Church, O wise revealer of sacred things, upon which every evil of the infantile enemy is dashed.
(Ode Seven, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Knowing that the honor shown to the image passeth over to the prototype, O glorious one, thou didst everywhere set up the immaculate icon of Jesus our God, unto the destruction of the demons’ effigies.
(Ode Nine, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Athanasius the Athonite
The great builder of the Holy Mountain, Saint Athanasius began his life trying to hide himself away for the sake of hesychia. As a child he did not care to join in the rambunctious games of others his age, instead retiring into the forest where he played as abbot. When admiration for his stately and sober bearing led him into the service of an imperial general, he shunned all of the rich trappings of his office instead living like apart like a hermit in a city. Eventually, the holy man entered the monastic life, where he achieved his goal of retreat from the world on Mt. Athos which was at the time populated only by hermits. The devil, seeing in the young monk a future adversary he would not be able to overcome, assaulted him with all of his strength, particularly through the temptation of acedia (idleness, sloth, restlessness, loss of interest in spiritual things, feeling vaguely unwell). His heart as dry as a desert, he thought about leaving, but committed to staying where God had placed for at least a year. On the last day, having experienced no relief and making preparations to return to the world, Saint Athanasius was filled with the uncreated light which departed to him the gifts of joy and tears. Having overcome his trial by the grace of God, the Saint became a scourge of the enemy. By his prayers, he drove away a demon that had physically paralyzed some workmen who were building him a permanent structure on the place where he had received the gift of light. Building works began radiating out from there like the rays of the sun, with the saint overseeing the work and securing financial support for the projects from imperial benefactors, including the Emperor himself. The demons responded to the assault by stirring up dissension among the growing communities, and Saint Athanasius left Athos for a time. Called to Constantinople by the the Emperor John Tzimiskis who had assassinated Nicephoros Phocas (Athanasius’s spiritual child), the Saint so impressed the man that he doubled the support the monasteries on the Holy Mountain received from the crown, and sent a wise monk from the Stoudion Monastery back to Athos with the Saint to quell the unrest. This was accomplished through an imperial edict, the Tragos, which gave the communities there an official organization; it is preserved to this day in Karyes. Thus, the devil was overcome in both the personal life of the Saint and in the community that he helped to build – both literally and spiritually. The rest of his life was attended by countless other miracles, especially among the many lepers who came to him for aid. He lovingly referred to them as the greatest treasure of the Great Lavra.
Hymnography
As we the choirs of the fathers come together, let us acclaim the lover of Christ, the namesake of immortality, the true initiate of the Savior, and the boast and pride and guide of all solitaries, who was sanctified unto the Lord from infancy; for having conceived divine love in himself, he abandoned the delusion of the world, and took Christ’s yoke upon his shoulders. He manfully put to flight the hordes of demons, showing us in his deeds that more excellent way of divine love; for walking therein, he speedily reached the true light of the Trinity, Who is able to do all things. O amazing wonder, and work of divine magnificence! For he, being earthly in nature, became equal to the angelic essences, receiving infinite glory and honor from God; and he is become an intercessor for us, that we may attain to the eternal good things in the day of judgment.
(For the Entreaty, Second Troparion; Vespers)
The all-wondrous achievements of thy life in asceticism amazed the noetic powers and astonished mortals; for in this earthly body, thou didst wrestle with invisible enemies almost as though thou hadst been without flesh. Therefore, all the generations of the pious, and above all, thy venerable flock, the shining monument to thy labors, sing of thee. It is this flock which thou didst show to be a delightful city in the wilderness, which though didst establish as the beautiful dwelling of an army of monks, which is bedecked with thy wonders and thy noble contests as with costly vesture. Through thy prayers and intercessions, O Athanasius, it asketh that it be protected by Christ, Who hath great mercy.
(For the Entreaty, Third Troparion; Vespers)
Let us sound a trumpet of song; for the grace of the Spirit, resounding more clearly than any trumpet, calleth all together to the praise of our God-bearing Father. Ye kings and princes, marvel at the true servant of the King of all, who with the whole armor of the Divine Spirit put to flight the principalities and powers of the ruler of this world. Ye shepherds and teachers, let us acclaim him who is pure in doctrine, courageous in the Faith, or lofty understanding in divine vision; in works, soaring above the clouds; in doctrine, a torrent of delight; the guide of the erring, the support of the shaken, and most compassionate towards all in infirmity. As we extol this great boast of Athos, let us all say: O Athanasius, pinnacle of the Fathers, stand by thy servants in every hour, O our Father, and by thine entreaties , save thy flock.
(For the Entreaty, Doxastikon; Vespers)
Rejoice, thou who becamest the head of the ascetics, and their unconquered champion; for cutting the roots of the passions and bravely bearing the blows of the demons’ onslaughts, thou didst overcome their utter infirmity and their error, which slayeth souls; and thou didst show forth the great strength of the Savior’s Cross, making manifest that its might is invincible. Girding thyself therewith, thou overcamest all that reject Christ God’s divine and most honored appearance unto us in the flesh. O wise Athanasius, intercede with Him to grant His great mercy to our souls.
(For the Aposticha, Second Troparion; Vespers)
Thou wast a shining pillar of light raised up in virtues and a cloud overshadowing all those on the Mount of Athos, for whom thou wentest before, leading seers of God from earth to Heaven’s heights. By parting the passions’ sea with the rod of the Savior’s Cross and overcoming the invisible Amalek, thou didst find a clear passage leading up Heavenwards; there hast thou gained thine everlasting portion, O blest of God, as with the bodiless Angels, thou now dost stand at the throne of Christ in great joy and gladness. Intercede with Him to grant His great mercy to our souls.
(For the Aposticha, Third Troparion; Vespers)
The Angel’s ranks were awed by thy life in the flesh, how, though corporeal, and clad with earthly clay, thou didst set forth with courage to invisible wars and wrestlings and didst boldly smite the hordes of the demons with mortal wounds. Wherefore, Christ rewarded thee with abundant gifts in return. Entreat Him that our souls fund salvation, O most renowned Father Athanasius.
(Apolytikion)
Making thy mind governor over the passions, and having thy footsteps guided by godly deeds, thou didst walk the good road unto the end, piously warding off the ambushes and treacheries and knaveries of the demons, since thou didst wisely choose the better.
(Ode Four, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Having marvelously received thy calling from on high, thou didst inherit immortal life. For though in a body, thou didst lead the life of the bodiless on the earth, becoming invincible to passions. Therefore we extol thee, O Father:
Rejoice, bright glory of monastics; rejoice, shinning pillar of chastity.
Rejoice, far-seen token of courage; rejoice, proof of all-wise prudence.
Rejoice, impartial scales of exact justice; rejoice, thou who madest the fervency of thy deeds conformable to reason.
Rejoice, mind enjoying ineffable intellections; rejoice, thou who didst reverently study all creation.
Rejoice, thou by whom demons have been shamed; rejoice, thou by whom every passion is slain.
Rejoice, haven for those in the tempest of life; rejoice, savior of them that faithfully cry to thee:
Rejoice, O Father Athanasius.
(Ikos; Orthros Canon)
Vigorously thrusting back the principalities and powers of darkness, O Athanasius, thou becamest a mighty teacher and saving guide, laying bare their treacheries and ambushes and guile, and preserving thy flock unharmed from all the demons’ villainy.
(Ode Eight, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Truly precious in Thy sight, O Christ, hath been the death of Thy Saint; for behold, even after death, how Thy servant wondrously hath gushed forth from his holy foot a spring of blood, which doth ever drive away all kinds of sickness; and it doth put to flight spirits of wickedness, which this blessed man while yet alive on earth fought against with bold resistance even unto blood.
(For the Praises, First Troparion; Orthros)
Christ the Lord hath shown us mortal men thy relics ven’rable shrine as a fountain of miracles and a river filled with gifts, Athanasius supremely wise. For it hath granted their sight unto the blind and hath purged elephantitis away; it cleanseth leprosy; and those vexed with unclean spirits are set free from the demons’ power and they are made sound and whole.
(For the Praises, Second Troparion; Orthros)