Seeking to become a physician of both bodies and souls, Saint Paul, after completing his studies in medicine, became a monk. Upon entering the monastery, he was immediately assailed by the spirit of lust, but he overcame and uprooted the passion through fasting, prayer, and by making the sign of the precious and life-giving Cross. Enraged by his defeat, the demon deceived a woman to announce that the Monk Paul was a fornicator and the father of her new-born infant. Unfazed by her lies, the Saint prayed that God would reveal the truth and commanded the child to tell the crowd who his father actually was. The child immediately identified a local blacksmith with a strong and clear voice. Thus, Saint Paul’s accuser as well as the demon who inspired them were put to shame, and Saint Paul was given the gift to heal spiritual maladies as an icon of the Great Physician.
Category: 7th Century (+)
Indicates saints who died in the 7th Century.
Pausicacius, Bishop of Synnada
An unmercenary physician of the body in the world, Saint Pausicacius became a monk and also began caring for the souls of those who came to him for aid. He especially enjoyed cases that had otherwise been given up as hopeless. Having increased his ascetic striving, the Lord worked miraculous healings by his prayers, setting aright deformities of the body (especially children), and casting out demons that caused deformities of the soul. Later, as a result of his growing renown, he was made Bishop of Synnada where he rightly divided the word of truth showing zeal for the true Faith.