Born to childless parents after a vision of the Great Martyr Means, Saint Nicanor was raised in piety and in the love of Holy Scriptures. His ged parents having departed this life, the Saint quickly gave all of his possessions to the poor and became a monastic. After being made a Deacon, he heard a voice telling him to retire to Mount Callistratus where he would find hesychia. He found a high and inaccessible cave where he gave himself to unceasing prayer and extreme fasting. Hoping to impede his progress, the Devil assailed the Holy Ascetic with endless trials, but he overcame through the Name of Christ and the sign of Cross. The light of Christ shining through him was so bright that it could not be hidden, and he was soon surrounded by disciples who helped him to build a monastery and several dependencies that were renowned for their careful attention to the Typikon of Mar Sabas.
Category: Cross
Indicates saints who utilized the cross in their defeat of the demons.
Martyr Eusignius of Antioch
A veteran soldier who had served in the imperial army for over 50 years, Saint Eusignius was denounced to the Apostate Emperor, Julian, for being a Christian. His years of long service ensuring him a public trial, the Martyr, in imitation of the Prophet King David in the Psalms (Psalm 95 LXX) and the Holy Apostle Paul in his first Epistle to the Corinthians, revealed the Greek gods and idols to be nothing more than demons, defeating them by his utter disdain. When many soldiers who witnessed this spectacle indicated their willingness to be converted in response to the Martyr’s kingly bearing in suffering, Julian had Saint Eusignius beheaded immediately.
Hymnography
O Eusignius, thou didst prove an invincible man of war; being hedged about with the weapon of the Cross, thou wentest forth to contend against the merciless enemy; dashing him upon the ground, thou didst triumph most splendidly. Now thou hast received the bright crown of thy vic’try from the only Lord and Setter of the contest, He that is King everlastingly.
(Lord, I have cried, Second Troparion of the Saint; Vespers)
Since thou hadst achieved humility through godly ways, O prizewinner, thou overthrewest the proud spirit of him that fell through wickedness.
(Ode Four, Third Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
When thou foughtest in war, thou wast seen to be an invincible soldier; and when thou underwentest martyrdom, thou didst utterly destroy incorporeal adversaries.
(Ode Four, Fourth Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
With thy noble ways, thou didst establish in thy heart the understanding of the truth,, and wast not ignorant of the adversary’s devices; wherefore, when thou rannest to the conflict, thou didst destroy his battalions with the Cross as thine ally.
(Ode Six, First Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
When the demons’ servants learned that thou wast a servant of the Holy Trinity, they subjected thee to torments, prisons, and an unjust death, O all-blessed Martyr Eusignius; but they were conquered by thine invincible resistance.
(Ode Six, Second Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
The torrents of thy blood have dried up the miry torrents of iniquity, and the rivers of godlessness, and the wicked floods of the deceiver, O Martyr; but for the faithful they are an inextinguishable sea of healings.
(Ode Six, Third Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
By the power of Christ thou hast slain the powerless enemy, who is puffed up and vaunteth himself now truly for nought; and thou hast bowed thy neck to the stroke of the sword, O Martyr, and hast sanctified the whole earth with the flow of thy blood.
(Ode Nine, First Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
O Jesus, Son of Glory, Who hast today made bright the memorial of Thy prizewinner, by his intercessions enlighten my soul, darkened with the serpent’s deceit, I pray Thee, that I may glorify Thee as true God and the Friend of man.
(Ode Nine, Fourth Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
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)
Great Martyr Procopius of Caesarea
As he was on his way from Alexandria at the head of an army sent out to persecute Christians who refused to follow the edicts of Diocletian, Saint Procopius had his own Damascus Road experience when Christ Jesus spoke to him from out of an unexpected lightning storm. When he responded with humility and repentance, the Lord revealed the Gospel to him and, like a new Constantine, he was told that he would conquer by the sign of the cross as a new chosen vessel of grace. After a jeweler had crafted a silver cross in the fashion of the one that had appeared in the sky, three names appeared on it, inscribed by the finger of God — Emmanuel, Michael, and Gabriel. Thus, it was by the power of the crucified and risen Lord, along with the two Holy Archangels who were ever with him, that Saint Procopius became a terror to the enemies of mankind. Having won a great military victory, he ascribed his success to the power of Christ and was denounced to the Emperor. Hating to lose such a sharp sword, the Governor of Caesarea (Diocletian’s designee in the matter), said that all would be forgiven if he offered sacrificed to the idols. When he refused, he was beaten severely and thrown into prison, but the Lord appeared to him again with his angelic protectors to heal him and free him from his bonds. He also gave him a new name, Procopius (“progress”), encouraging him to continue progressing toward the Kingdom through perseverance, no matter what the servants of the demons devised for him. On his next appearance before the Governor, the Saint asked to be taken to the temple so that he could honor them as they deserved. The prideful Governor was overjoyed assuming himself to be victorious, and he invited the public to come witness the Saint’s return to the imperial cult. But, when Saint Procopius arrived in the temple, he offered a simple prayer, made the sign of the cross, and the idols were immediately reduced to dust. Enraged by his public humiliation and the conversions to Christianity that resulted, the Governor had the Saint returned to his prison where he was tortured and interrogated. In the midst of his sufferings, he cast out a demon from a small child indicating that, like Christ Jesus, he was submitting himself to torture voluntarily to make of himself an offering to the Lord. His steadfast endurance amazed all who saw it, including the authorities, but hardening their hearts too all the miracles they witnessed, they finally had the Holy Martyr beheaded.
Hymnography
Raising thyself up as a temple and monument of the Divine Spirit, and breathing godly zeal, thou brakest in pieces the temples and lifeless idols of the demons, O Martyr Procopius.
(Ode Three, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thou didst put off the coats of skin when thou wast scraped; and thou hast put on the robe of incorruption, O Martyr Procopius, and hast stripped the wily one naked.
(Ode Three, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Since thou hast received from on high the grace of healing, O Martyr, thou drivest away diseases and dost chase away evil spirits, while crying out: Blessed art Thou, O my God and Lord.
(Ode Seven, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thou art become a fountain of miracles, pouring forth rivers of healings, ending the burning heat of sufferings, and sinking in the deep of demons’ battalions by the almighty divine power of the Spirit, O admirable Procopius.
(Ode Nine, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
While yet young in years, thou, like the marvelous Paul, didst receive the divine gift from the highest, and with the whole armor of the Cross thou didst cast down the arrogance of the cunning adversary. O glory if Martyrs, prizewinner Procopius, entreat the Lord for us, that our souls be saved.
(For the Praises, Second Troparion; Orthros)
Having like Paul received thy calling from God, by thy trust in the Cross, thou didst manfully put to shame the impiety of the tyrants and the harshness of the torments. Wherefore, thou didst resist sin even unto blood, striving against invisible enemies; and thou intercedest unceasingly with God our redeemer, that peace be granted unto the world and great mercy to our souls.
(For the Praises, Doxastikon; Orthros)
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.
Peter the Athonite
An elite soldier of the Byzantine army, the first Athonite was captured and imprisoned by Arab forces. Remembering in the darkness of his prison that he had vowed to become a monk in his youth, Saint Peter began his repentance and was enrolled in the Lord’s army. After being set free from prison by Saint Nicolas the Wonderworker and Saint Symeon the God-Receiver, Saint Peter was sent to sack the demonic stronghold on Mount Athos which Christ Jesus had given to His Holy Mother as her garden. After his arrival, he climbed the mountain and found a cave that had become a lair of beasts and demons. Without any hesitation, he settled there out of obedience and trust in the Lord, and the demons fled in the wake of such childlike faith. Infuriated by the onslaught of his prayer, the Devil sent his forces to attack him with frightful noises, and visions of arrows and high-pressured geysers. Saint Peter simply called out to the Theotokos and the demonic devices vanished. Realizing their attempts at artifice had failed, the demons stirred up all the wild animals and reptiles of the region and sent them against him as well, but they too were put to flight by the Name of the Lord and the sign of His cross. Victorious in battle, the holy ascetic steadily grew in virtue and the likeness of Christ. Knowing that he could not defeat Saint Peter, the Devil resorted to deception to try to get him to abandon his post. He disguised himself as a servant and presented himself to the Man of God reminding him of his parents and promising to find him a retreat closer to the city where they lived. Though he was affected by the vision, he told the youth that he had not been given leave to depart by the One who had sent him. Some years later, the demon tried yet again appearing to Saint Peter as an angel of light, but the ascetic replied that he was not deceived because he knew he was unworthy to entertain angels. Lashed by his humility as if with fire, the demon retreated yet again. By the end of his life, the Holy Mountain was being settled by an increasing number of monks, a testament to his success in battle. Even after death he continued putting the enemy to shame – a demon was cast out of a man when he touched the body of the Saint, and a man sent by the Devil to burn the holy relics was stopped by an unseen hand.
Hymnography
With what fair crowns of praise shall we crown the illustrious Peter of Athos? Name for him that led the Apostles’ choir and who himself led the Angel’s life, the rock of divine faith in Christ Savior; that summit of Holy Athos and its champion; the Virgin and Theotokos’s initiate; that indestructible anvil on the which were broken all the evil one’s treacheries; he who hath received bright crowns from heaven for all his victories.
(Lord, I have cried; First Troparion of Saint Peter)
Founded upon the unbreakable rock of faith with unwavering firmness, thou, O righteous Peter, wast not cast down by the assaults of the enemy or by all his multiform illusions; but rather, on stripping naked all his wickedness, thou leddest thy life in stillness and nakedness beyond the limits of nature, whereby thou hast put on the bright robe of gladness and joy by grace, and thou hast passed on to light never dimmed with eventide.
(Lord, I have cried; Third Troparion of Saint Peter)
Notable Athos, the holy inheritance of the Theotokos, glorieth in thy struggles, O all-blessed Peter. For ascending into this mountain, thou didst lift thy mind up to the everlasting mountains; and passing thy life in the unyielding practice of the virtues, though didst prove to be an immovable rock of patient endurance. For in thy steadfast purpose, O Father, thou didst endure the frenzied illusions of darkness and the many necessities of nature. Wherefore, at the sight of thine endurance Angels marveled, the demons trembled, and the Church is astonished, and crieth with exceeding gladness unto Him that gave thee strength: O Lord, glory be to Thee.
(For the Entreaty; Third Troparion)
Rejoice, star of Mount Athos most bright, thou Godlike dweller of the Mountain brought up thereon, thou sword cutting down the demons and hurling down their assaults; O unsleeping eye of stillness great in prayer; thou true and beloved friend of the pure Mother of our God, for, being cherished by her vigilant providence, thou didst dash the designs of the enemy. Blessed art thou, O Peter, mighty rock indestructible, thou living rule of invincible perseverance for hesychoasts. Implore Christ the Savior to grant pardon of our sins and great mercy to our souls.
(Second Troparion of the Aposticha)
To the Mountain of Athos thou rannest eagerly, led by the marvelous providence of the Mother of God; and thy way of life astonished mortals mightily. For thou didst live in nakedness and didst put to open shame malign Belial completely with thy persistent endurance, O Father Peter, glory of the Saints.
(Sessional Hymns after the Second Reading from the Psalter, Doxastikon; Orthros)
Ye who dwelt in the desert and showed it forth as a city, O marvelous pair of Saints, O glorious Onuphrios, and divine Peter, blest are ye. For the one dwelt in Egypt as thou incorporeal, while the other on Athos heaped shame on the dragon’s head. Wherefore, ye are heirs of every heavenly blessing, the Angel’s beloved friends, their companions and peers on high, unto whom we cry out with faith: Intercede with Christ our God that forgiveness of all their transgressions be granted to them that with longing keep your holy memory.
(Sessional Hymns after the Polyeleos, First Troparion; Orthros)
Thy servant Peter, having thy help, O immaculate Lady, destroyed with a staunch spirit the enemy’s cunning treacheries.
(Ode Three, Of Saint Peter, Theotokion; Orthros Canon)
Thou wentest forth naked to the strife and contest, O Saint, and thou didst strip naked all the foe’s devices by thine unwavering constancy. Struggling in the shadow of Mount Athos in labors, thou didst cast the demon’s foul despite down in ruin. For this, O blessed Peter, did Christ show thee forth marvellous.
(Sessional Hymns after Ode Three, Doxastikon; Orthros Canon)
The ven’rable Peter, having found thee truly to be a gracious defender and a speedy helper in war, O Virgin unstained and pure, calling on thy hallowed name, he threw down the devil, running to the end the course of God-pleasing virtues; and now he doth behold the pure light of thy great majesty.
(Sessional Hymns after Ode Three, Theotokion; Orthros Canon)
The swarms of demons, beholding thy way of life, fell upon thee with all manner of treacheries; but their madness was defeated by thy constancy, O Peter, as thou didst fix thy gaze upon the grace of God.
(Ode Five, Of Saint Peter, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Raging against thee with all his power, the guileful enemy appeared with a multitude of archers frantic with martial fury; but thou, clothed with the whole armor of the all-pure Virgin, didst turn to flight his wanton audacity.
(Ode Five, Of Saint Peter, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
The godly-minded Peter, cleansed in mind and poetically beholding the thy glory, O only transcendently glorious and Lady graced of God, manfully endured the villainies of the demons and hurled their presumption to the ground.
(Ode Five, Of Saint Peter, Theotokion; Orthros Canon)
The crafty foe, waxing wanton against thee, set upon thee in the form of terrible serpents and wild beasts; but thou didst dash him to the ground with the invocation of the all-pure Virgin.
(Ode Six, Of Saint Peter, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Protected by the immaterial overseeing of the Theotokos, thou didst pass unhurt through the plots of the dragon, O God-bearing Peter, and didst water Athos with the sweat of thy struggles.
(Ode Six, Of Saint Peter, Theotokion; Orthros Canon)
In the form of thy domestic servant, and of an archangel of the Lord of Hosts, the enemy of what is good came to lead thee into error, unerring star that thou wast, but he was put to shame by thy prayers.
(Ode Seven, Of Saint Peter, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
How shall I laud thy life, and thy trophies against the demons? For thou didst contend like an immaterial being in a material body and threwest down the enemy’s tens of thousands of treacheries.
(Ode Seven, Of Saint Peter, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thy hallowed reliquary is an inexhaustible source of healing, which endeth the cruel violence of grievous diseases and manifestly chaseth away unclean spirits; for the divine grace dwelling therein worth strange wonders.
(Ode Nine, Of Saint Peter, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thou art the chief of hesychasts on Mount Athos, completing mighty struggles beyond all measure: Hence, O righteous Peter, we all call thee blest, as the unshaken rock of faith which to the end dashed to pieces the fierce assaults of the demons.
(Exapostalaria, Of Saint Peter; Orthros)
Peter, righteous boast of Athonites, the bright achievements and feats of they conflicts and victories and the high singular prizes won by thy way of life amaze our minds and confirm our souls in faith, while turning back in defeat demons’ troops. What labors thou didst bear! Living out thy life as incorporeal, naked and unsheltered from the ruthless elements.
(For the Praises, Of Saint Peter, First Troparion; Orthros)
Swayed by the Virgin’s divine behest , thou wentest zealously forth to Mount Athos to lead a life of relentless discipline far transcending the fallen world. Upon destroying the demons’ phantasies, thou didst receive bread of Angels for thy food. What grace most marvelous was bestowed on thee as thy reward from God, O God-bearing Peter, for thy pains in solitude.
(For the Praises, Of Saint Peter, Second Troparion; Orthros)
Cyril of the White Lake
As a zealous young monk, Saint Cyril sought a blessing from his elder to fast more than the brethren. His elder, however, encouraged him to first build a firm foundation on the common life so as to avoid temptation and delusion. As such, he developed a rule of prayer with his elder in which the two of them got up together at night and kept vigil, reading the Psalter and making prostrations until the start of the daily office the next morning. This obedience and perseverance made it such that, when the demons attacked through frightful images, he was able to overcome them with the sign of the cross and through the Jesus Prayer. In such ways, he slowly but surely overcame his foes – both his flesh and his bodiless enemies – and was transformed into the likeness of Christ. Later in life, when he had become abbot at the Monastery of the White Lake, the devil sought to assail the Man of God by attacking his spiritual children. The demons continually suggested evil thoughts and attitudes about Saint Cyril to a monk who kept them secret for more than a year. Finally unable to take it anymore, who went to the Saint to confess, but was not able to speak for shame and by the artifice of the evil one. Seeing the clearly the state of the man’s soul, Saint Cyril described his sins to him in detail. The man then fell to his knees in repentance and received forgiveness of his sins, and was thus delivered from torment. For his life of faithfulness, God granted the Saint the gift of healing which he offered liberally to those in need sprinkling them with holy water and anointing them with oil. By these same methods he also cast out a multitude of demons with authority.
Martyr Constantine, the Muslim Convert
Born of Muslim parents, Saint Constantine was blinded as a youth by a malicious magician who, prompted by a demon, gave him a poison potion to drink. Bedridden for three years as a result, his desperate mother heeded the suggestion of a Christian woman to have him submerged in a miraculous pool. Like a foreshadowing of his eventual baptism, the holy Martyr was healed and a seed of salvation was planted in his heart which was watered each time he heard someone teaching about the Christian Faith. This eventually led him to the Holy Mountain he converted and began to responsibly cultivate a desire to give his life as a thank offering to Christ in imitation of the holy martyrs. Put off from this purpose for a time by his spiritual father, Saint Constantine traveled to Magnesia to affect the conversion of his sister. During this trip he was recognized by a Turk and was arrested as an apostate from Islam. This circumstance fanned the flame of his desire which had been as a smoldering coal, and the holy Martyr was given the courage to endure. Again at the prompting of a demon, his torturer devised a metal helmet meant to both retain heat and place a crushing pressure on the sides of his head. This helmet was heated in the fire and placed on Saint Constantine’s head. Meant for evil, the device became for him the helmet of salvation in the armor of God. When they began to cut and beat him, a golden cross appeared on his chest which became impervious to their assaults. Seeing they could do nothing else to the Martyr, he was bung upside down for the night where he suffered demonic attacks in the form of various temptations and apparitions. Saint Constantine, however, had been purified by the refiners fire, and easily repulsed the assault on his soul. He was further strengthened by a vision of the Mother of God who told him that he would survive to bear witness of her Son in Constantinople, but would eventually carry off the martyr’s crown . There a kindly priest offered to have him released, but the Saint declined. Appearing before the judge, he suggested that the judge be converted. The enraged man instead ordered that he be beaten and hung. Thus, the prophecy of the Theotokos came to pass, and Saint Constantine proved himself to be a faithful servant of the Lord to the end.
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.