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.
Category: Monastic
Indicates monastic saints.
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.
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)
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)
Nicodemus of Lake Kozha
Called to be a monastic by an audible voice at his baptism, Saint Nicodemus held off taking up the veil to be in obedience to his parents who shared a well-intentioned concern for his well being. After their death, he forgot his earlier intention and became blacksmith in Moscow. But when he was delivered from the effects of a pernicious poison by the intercessions of Saint Basil the Fool for Christ, he remembered his calling, sold all his possessions, and became a monk. Always longing for a deeper hesychia, the Saint joined a community in the far north of the country that was overseen by Saint Serapion. After a few years, he received a blessing to become a hermit and settled along the Kozhyug River. There he submerged himself in a life of extreme asceticism, fasting to his absolute limit and standing in prayer for long hours without being aware of the passage of time. He was granted the gift of compunction and the constant stream of tears carved deep furrows in his face. Furious by his display and threatened by the grace that God visited on him as a result, the demons hurled themselves at Nicodemus hoping to intimidate him, cause him to despair, and drive him off. But the Saint treated them with disdain and casually drove them away by his prayer. Utterly defeated, the demons thought they would try to turn this to their advantage, tempting him to pride by withdrawing their attacks for a time. Their hope was that their absence would cause him to glory in his ability to banish them. So, when they thought he least expected it, they threw themselves against him again with all their might, but found the Saint as immoveable as before, grounded as he was in humility and watchfulness. As a result, Saint Nicodemus lived out the rest of his days in peace.
Sergius and Herman, Founders of the Monastery of Valaam
Saint Sergius came to the far north from Greece to spread to Gospel amongst the tribes there. Preaching life dedicated to the Crucified and Risen Lord, the Saint made his base of operations at the spot where, according to tradition, Saint Andrew the First-Called had planted a cross on his missionary journeys. There he lives a life of strict asceticism, making hand-written copies of the Holy Scripture to learn and study the text at night and then preaching the Word during the day. He lived in this way for more than 50 years, a community forming around him all the while which became the Monastery of Valaam in Lake Ladoga. Saint Herman was his partner in this work, and he was so much like his spiritual father that no one knew if he had always been with him or joined him as a new disciple in his retreat. He led the monastic community faithfully in the spirit and power of Saint Sergius. When Saint Herman died, he was buried in the same tomb with Saint Sergius. Over the years, many attempts were made to access their holy relics, but this was prevented by an uncreated fire that overshadowed the tomb. Firmly rooted in the monastery they had founded, the two Saints never ceased to intercede for the brotherhood and the faithful there. By their prayers, the Lord poured out his grace on the people, especially coming to the aid of sailors and delivering those who were possessed by demons.
Hymnography
Ye appeared as true fulfillers of the Gospel of Christ, living for the sake of Christ as though the world an all therein did not exist. Ye settled on an island in the sea, whereon ye struggled assiduously against the invisible foe; by fasts, vigils, and all-night standing ye wisely subjected your bodies to the spirit; for this cause did ye receive worthy crowns from the right hand of the Almighty One. And now as ye stand before the All-holy Trinity, O all-blessed Fathers Sergius and Herman, pray that we be preserved in peace and that our souls be saved.
(Dismissal Hymn)
Paul the Physician of Corinth
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.
David of Thessalonica
After becoming a monk, Saint David, inspired by the lives of the holy stylites, climbed a tree near the monastery Church and lived on one of its branches for three years as the first of the dendrites (tree dwellers). Lifted up on the tree in imitation of Christ Jesus, he did battle with the passions, crucifying the flesh through asceticism. He constantly meditated on Holy Scripture and the Lives of the Saints for spiritual sustenance, and cried out hymns of praise like a bird bursting its throat in song. Having been lifted up both physically and spiritually, he drew men unto himself and guided them to the Lord as their spiritual father. Coming down from his tree for this purpose as well as and to minister to the people of Thessalonica, God gave him grace to heal all manner of sickness, restore sight to the blind, and drive out demons by calling on the Name of the Lord. Thus, he became a guardian angel in the flesh for the city and the whole region, his cell always being filled with a radiant light at night as he visited with God face-to-face like Moses. Later in an appearance before the Senate in the imperial city, David picked up a coal and used his hand as a censer to cense the faithful there showing that he had become a flaming pillar of love for God.
Hymnography
Since thou hadst mortified thy bodily members upon the earth, O Father, thou hadst Life dwelling in thy heart, even Christ, Who deadened the power of the devil who made mankind subject to death.
(Ode One, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
In obedience to the Master’s laws, O righteous David, thou didst take thy cross on thy shoulders following in his steps; and being lowly in humility, thou didst cast down the destroyer’s lofty pride.
(Ode One, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
New Martyr Procopios
Becoming a monk in his youth on the Holy Mountain, Saint Procopios was respected by the brethren for his simplicity of faith. The Devil, however, unleashed an endless assault of temptation suggesting that he return to the world. Unable to resist, the Saint finally gave in. Embittered by his weakness, Procopios despaired and ran to Islam in a vain attempt to hide himself from the Lord. Coming to himself at the moment of his circumcision, the Saint was convinced of God’s mercy for sinners, and confessed his apostasy. From then on, he zealously sought for a time where he might boldly Christ before men. When the time came, and he was hauled before the tribunal, he repudiated his Muslim turban and donned a monastic skoufia explaining that he had only accepted Islam after being deceived by the Devil. He proclaimed that there was nothing at all left him in but Christ. Shortly thereafter, he was found worthy to receive a martyr’s crown, thereby triumphing over the enemy.
Gregory, Disciples of Nicetas of Thebes
This saint was shaped into the very image of his Spiritual father, Nicetas of Thebes. After becoming a monastic, he lived as a hermit on the island of Oreos in Greece, spending several years in silence and prayer. When visitors were invariably drawn to him, he taught them to resist the evil thoughts suggested by the devil. To do so he equipped them with the weapons of humility, watchfulness, righteous anger, rebuke, and cleansing prayer that gushes forth from a heart given to divine eros.