A lover of prayer and solitude, Saint Joannicius led the ascetic life in a cave on the Ibar River in eastern Serbia. Later, having established a monastery for the faithful who had gathered around him, he fled deeper into the wilderness of Devich in Kosovo where he lived in complete solitude for many years. There he held off the assaults of the demons who tried in vain to interrupt his ceaseless prayer of the heart. Word eventually came to the Despot of Serbia, George Brankovich (Saint Maksim), who brought his daughter who was mentally ill and possessed by a demon to the hermit, seeking his aide. Saint Joannicius delivered her by his prayer, and her grateful father had a church and monastery built there to thank God for his benefactions through his servant. After his death, the saint’s relics continued to work healings, especially for those tormented by the demons and mental illness.
Category: Types of Saints
Indicates the various types of saints in the Orthodox Church.
Stephen, Bishop of Perm
Enlightener of the land of Perm, Saint Stephen brought the gospel to the pagan tribes of the region, devising an alphabet and translating the Holy Scriptures and the divine services into the native language. His zeal for the faith was such that, motivated by love and concern for the people, he entered their temple, overturned their idols, burned it down, and waited calmly by the charred rubble. When the angry masses arrived, they were prevented from attacking the missionary by an invisible force. Saint Stephen, whose preaching had met with limited success to that point, explained that, if their idols had really been gods, they would have prevented the destruction of the temple and punished him for the attempt. But showing them instead to be the work of the hands of men, he urged the pagans to renounce the demonic delusions that would lead them to suffer unending torment in an eternal fire. Having witnessed the power of God, the people embraced the faith and received Holy Baptism. Saint Stephen was eventually consecrated bishop of Perm, taking up his seat in the land which he had enlightened.
Sylvester of Obnora
Appearing in the forest of Obnora like a burst of sunlight, the hermit monk Sylvester was a disciple of Saint Sergius of Radonezh who had been given a blessing to live the eremitic life in the Russian wilderness. After being revealed, the local population sought him out in large numbers to receive guidance in the spiritual life. Having presented himself to Saint Alexis, the Metropolitan of Moscow, Saint Sylvester founded a monastery in the place where he had lived the ascetic life. After falling asleep in peace, many miracles occurred at his tomb including the deliverance of those who had been possessed by demons.
Elizabeth the Wonderworker
Consumed by a divine eros for Christ, St. Elizabeth fixed her gaze on the Divine Beauty, turning neither to the right nor the left. For her single-minded dedication she was granted the gift of working miracles which she used to heal the sick, cast out demons, and predict future events. Like a female St. George, she too killed a dragon which held sway over the Hebdomon District of Constantinople armed only with the precious cross. On the day after the feast of the Trophy-bearer, St. Elizabeth fell asleep. Her body remained incorrupt and continued to work wonders for the faithful down through the centuries.
Hymnography
Since thou didst pereserve in ascetical diligence, thou hast received grace to drive out the maladies of souls and bodies, O Modest Mother blest of God, in the Holy Spirit, chasing spirits off and protecting all found in adversities; now in thine intercessions, ask that strength and great mercy be granted unto all.
(First Troparion of the Saint; Lord, I have cried)
Having borne the pains of self-denial, thou didst gain the grace of deep dispassion and of healing to cure every malady, and to drive off all the working of demons’ spite, O God-inspired, wonder worthy Elizabeth. Righteous Mother, interceded with Christ God in our behalf, that His great mercy may be granted unto us.
(Sessional Hymn of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
The terrible serpent, even the dragon, hast thou slain with thy prayer; for having first broken all the devices of the evil one by divine power, thou gavest him as food to the beasts and to every fowl of the air, O Elizabeth, while glorifying the Master of all.
(Ode Four, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Resplendent was thy way of life, made beautiful with virtues; and thy falling-asleep hath sacredly flashed with the lightning or miracles, chasing away demons and dissipating the winter of passions by divine grace.
(Ode Six, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Great Martyr George the Trophy-bearer
In the midst of his trials under Diocletian, St. George feigned an intention to offer sacrifice in order to end his torment. Arriving at the Temple of Apollo in Nicomedia, the Great Martyr stood in front of the idol and made the sign of the cross. Unable to bear the power of the invincible weapon as wielded by the saint, multiple demons were immediately cast out of the idol and confessed Christ as true God. The lifeless statues then fell to the ground and shattered. While not explicitly spoken about in terms of the demonic, his defeat of the dragon which has become the central theme of his iconographic representation in the Church, also proclaims his victory over the enemy of mankind since the Devil is called the dragon in the Book of Revelation (Chapter 12).
Hymnography
With the breastplate of ardent faith, with the shield of resplendent grace, with the mighty spear of the Cross girt all about, thou didst prove unto thine enemies to be all-invincible; as a God-like prince in war, thou didst vanquish the demons’ troops, and dost dance for joy with the Angels; and caring for the faithful thou dost hallow and preserve them, when they invoke thee, O Martyr George.
(Fourth Troparion; Lord, I have cried; Great Vespers)
Thou hast lived worthily of thy name, O soldier George; for taking the Cross of Christ upon thy shoulders, thou hast cultivated the earth that had become barren because of diabolic deception; and uprooting the thorny religion of the idols, thou hast planted the vine of the Orthodox Faith. Wherefore thou gushes forth healings for the faithful throughout the world, and hast proved to be the Trinity’s righteous husbandman. Intercede, we pray, for the peace of the world and the salvation of our souls.
(Doxastikon of the Martyr; Lord, I have cried; Great Vespers)
Thou hast set a crown of glory on thy head, O crown-bearer George; for, as Paul crieth out, thou, seeing the invisible enemy, didst persevere, and becamest a victor over his deception. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, to Christ, Who is risen!
(Sixth Troparion of the Entreaty; Great Vespers)
Solomon said: Let the eyes of mortals gaze straight; for, he foretold, whoso locket straight shall find mercy from Christ God. Lending a ready ear unto this, O much-enduring George, thou didst follow the teachings of the Master; and when thou wast given up to the lawless, thou didst endure manfully, abhorring the rituals of delusion, because they are profane. For the love of Him that made thee, thy body was wholly severed limb by limb, and yet more was Belial wholly put to shame and wounded, when he saw thee wearing thy crown and flourishing again. Wherefore, as thou abides in the courts of thy Lord, O prizewinner, together with the powers on high, intercede with Christ that our souls be saved.
(Doxastikon of the Martyr for the Entreaty; Great Vespers)
We hymn thy contests, O all-blessed George, whereby thou hast overthrown the worship of the idols and hast destroyed all the deceit of the demons, O all-renowned Martyr.
(Ode Four, First Troparion; Second Orthros Canon)
Calm the tumult of temptations and dangers, O wonderworthy George, and as a soldier of Christ, drive every affront of the demons away from them that sing thy praises.
(Ode Four, Second Troparion; Second Orthros Canon)
As sweet-smelling flowers from another Paradise, let us gather hymns from the divinely-inspired Book of Psalms, and come, let us plait bright garland of songs woven for the Martyr; for he triumphed, and destroyed the power of Satan.
(Ode Eight, First Troparion, First Orthros Canon)
By thine intercessions, O crown-bearer George, check the flood of adversities, sufferings, and dangers, of tumultuous calamities, of maladies that befall us, for the devices of demons, and of the violence of adversaries.
(Ode Eight, First Troparion, Second Orthros Canon)
O Blessed George, unceasingly importune the Lord for us who praise thee as a Martyr of Christ, as a vanquisher of tyrants, as an exorcist of wicked spirits, as an unsleeping guardian, as a protector never put to shame.
(Ode Nine, First Troparion, Second Orthros Canon)