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)
Category: Stylite
Indicates saints who practiced the ascetic life on a pillar.
Nicetas the Stylite of Pereyaslavl
A particularly violent tax collector of Pereyaslavl-Zelessky, Saint Nicetas followed the path of that other tax collector, the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, after hearing the words of the Glorious Prophet Isaiah at Vespers calling the faithful to, “remove the evil of your deeds from before [the Lord’s] eyes” (Isaiah 1:16). Desperate to be washed clean, he fled to the Monastery of the Great Martyr Nicetas where he cried out for help for his imperiled soul. His sincerity being tested by the monks in various ways, the Saint patiently endured saying only that he needed help because he was perishing. He hungrily embraced the ascetic life, nourishing his soul on prayer, fasting, and night vigil. At night, he was attacked by the demons who had formerly enslaved him, but he drove them off with the sign of the cross and by asking for the intercession of Saint Nicetas, the patron and protector of the Monastery. Wishing his battle to remain secret, he took up residence on a pillar like the stylites of old where he continued to seek the Lord with tears. Despite these efforts, his reputation began to spread and, eventually, he became known to the pious Prince Michael of Chernigov who had fallen ill and become paralyzed. The Prince set out for the Monastery of Saint Nicetas at once. Knowing that the Prince’s deliverance was at hand if he made it to the monastery, a demon took on the guise of a monk and told Michael to turn around because the holy stylite was nothing but a fraud. Disturbed and confused, the Prince journeyed onward still. Seeing his failure, the demon tried again, this time appearing as a monk with a shovel. He told the Boyar that the Nicetas had died and that he had just buried him. This time, Prince Michael saw through the deception and chased the demons away by simply invoking the name of the Stylite. Having persevered, the Prince’s envoy arrived at the Saint’s pillar. Saint Nicetas gave him his walking stick, and upon receiving it, Prince Michael was healed and was able to walk on his own two feet to receive the man of God’s blessing.
Symeon the Younger, Stylite of the Wondrous Mountain
A living pillar of the Church, Saint Symeon revealed himself to be a seasoned warrior of the Lord from the tender age six by becoming a stylite in imitation of his Spiritual Father, John. Seeing in his way of life an indication of the way into the Kingdom, the Saint sought to decisevly put the “Old Man” to death in his infancy, by matching, and even exceeding, the spiritual labors of his elder (Romans 6:6). Ever victorious in his battle with the demons who hurled themselves against him, Symeon was consoled and strengthened after each attack by visions sent from the Lord. In one of these, he was anointed with a sweet-scented oil that drove back the demon hordes. Thus, he laid his foundation on the rock of Christ such that he could not be shaken by a storm sent by the Devil to topple him. From then he began to beg God to release him from the tyranny of nature, the blameless passions, and began to fast more severely and to keep vigil on his pillar. This progress in the ascetic life caused the demons to become even more fierce in their opposition, but the Saint easily dispatched them with he help of three angels sent by God to defend him. From then on, Saint Symeon simply commanded the enemies of mankind with the voice of authority and restored the afflicted with a word. The Emperor Justin II once wrote the holy stylite a letter informing him that his daughter had been possessed by a demon. The Saint simply told Justin that he should give thanks to God because his daughter would be delivered as soon as he received his return letter. After always having striven heavenward in both body and soul, Saint Symeon died in peace, and his soul was taken to Paradise by the angels he so closely resembled.
Hymnography
Thy divine life shone with the splendor of revelations; and filled with the fragrance of their divine myrrh, thou, like an athlete in contest, didst cut down the assailing hordes of demons, O servant of God.
(Ode Five, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
The enemy, frenziedly shooting with his bow, emptied his quiver of soul-slaying arrows, but was unable to shake the tower of thy soul, O God-bearer; for it was firmly established on the unbreakable rock of Christ.
(Ode Six, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
When the Almighty power of the Holy Spirit divinely took up its abode in thee, it moved all those maddened by evil spirits to hasten to thee from the farthest parts; and healing them with thy palm staff, thou toughest them thus: Praise the Creator unto the ages.
(Ode Eight, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)