Inspired by the holy reputation of Saint Athanius Bishop of Tarsus, Saint Anthusa desired to learn the Christian Faith from him. Saint Basil having appeared to her in a dream while still living, the girl recognized him while on a journey to Cilicia. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, she immediately requested baptism at which point a miraculous spring burst forth from dry land, and it was in these waters that the Holy Bishop baptized Saint Anthusa. Upon coming out of the font-not-made-with-hands, two angels appeared and clothed her with the white robe of the neophyte. After explaining to her mother that she had become a Christian, she was confirmed in her virginity by Saint Athanasius, and blessed to flee to the desert where she spent twenty years in extreme asceticism amongst the wild beasts who gamboled at her pure feet. While Saint Athansisus was put to death during Valerian’s persecution, Saint Anthusa put to death her passions in constant striving against the flesh and the Devil. The Evil One often appeared to her in the guise of a hermit monk asking her to come and pray with Him. But the purity of her nous was such that she could see through his schemes, and she routinely put him to flight with the Name above all Names. As a reward for her contest and her voluntary martyrdom in the desert, an angel appeared to her one day at prayer explaining that she was to receive the martyr’s crown. With that assurance, the athlete of Christ laid down in peace and gave her soul into God’s hands. Her incorrupt body was found in her cave four years later by Christians who were astonished to see that her flesh was still warm as if she were just asleep.
Category: Name of Christ
Indicates saints who invoked the Name of Christ or the Jesus Prayer in their defeat of the demons.
Martyrs Basil and Theodore of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves
Hearing the Gospel call to forsake everything to follow the Lord, Saint Theodore, who was a wealthy nobleman, gave away all his possessions to the poor and became a monk in the Kiev Caves Lavra at the feet of the holy elder, Saint Basil. Making quick progress in his zeal but fragile in his inexperience, the Devil opposed him by suggesting worries about the future. Without recourse to the prior security of his wealth and status, Saint Theodore fell into despair as his anxieties took root. Recognizing the signs in his disciple, Saint Basil pulled him up from the abyss of doubt as the Lord did for Saint Peter by showing him that source of his struggle was a lack of faith and not any real vulnerability. Seeing the Saint’s befitting dependence upon his elder and enraged that his previous attack had only prompted the young monk to draw even closer to God, the Enemy of Mankind renewed his assault through an even more devious scheme. Saint Basil having left the monastery on a three month assignment, the Devil appeared to Saint Theodore in the guise of Basil, explained that he had returned early from his trip, and advised him to begin praying for the Lord to return his wealth again. The Evil One explained that, now that Theodore had been freed from his attachment to it, the money could be used for good purposes. In the days that followed, the Devil appeared in Saint Theodore’s dreams as an angel of light multiple times and revealed to him the location where a great treasure had been buried in the area in times past. Then, returning again as Pseudo Basil, the demon asked Saint Theodore to reveal to him the location of the treasure so that they could use the wealth for the Kingdom. Such were the lengths to which the Accuser was willing to go to enslave the Saint to his passions, and, having fallen prey again to deception, Saint Theodore succumbed to avarice and dreamed of absconding with the money to use for his own selfish purposes. As he was planning to act on his plan, the real Saint Basil returned and sought out his spiritual child. But Saint Theodore drove him away thinking that he had devised some ruse (“acting” as if he hadn’t seen him in a long time) to rob him of his precious treasure. Seeing that his victory was in a precarious position, the demon appeared yet again to the Saint exhorting him to leave the monastery that very night. In the meantime, the true Basil returned to Theodore’s cell with a group of faithful monks who testified to the fact that Saint Basil had indeed been away from the monastery for past three months. Realizing that he had again been tricked by the Devil and that his soul was in danger, Saint Theodore gave himself over again to repentance and was prescribed the obedience to let no one enter his cell without first reciting the Jesus Prayer that drives away the invisible foe. Then, he hid the accursed treasure again and prayed to God that he would forget its location permanently, a prayer which the Lord in His mercy granted. Finding peace and joy again, the now experienced warrior matured in the Faith and grew old under the guidance of Saint Basil in the wilderness to which they had retreated as hermits. Not willing to admit defeat, the Devil assailed Saint Theodore again by indirect means. The demon appeared in the guise of Saint Basil to a boyar close to Prince Mstislav and told him that the Monk Theodore had found the long-sought-for treasure. The Devil further explained that the Saint was looking for the right opportunity to leave the country and to take with him the wealth he had discovered. Hearing this, the Prince had Saints Theodore brought before him to question them on the matter. Warned by the God that something was amiss, Saint Basil left his retreat to join him. Saint Theodore freely revealed that he had once known the location of the treasure, but, by the prayers of Saint Basil, he had been blessed to forget it for his deliverance from the passions and the salvation of his soul. Thinking that he was being made to play the fool by two simple monks, the enraged Prince had the two men tortured and thrown into prison to await further interrogation. That night, however, the two Saints gave their souls into the Lord’s hands, having won the ultimate victory over the ever-thwarted Enemy.
Theodora of Sihla
Married but unable to bear children, Saint Theodora and her husband entered a monastery in Moldavia. Not long after, however, the Turks invaded and she fled into the mountains with her Spiritual Mother. Dwelling in the wilderness, they showed manly courage battling both the conditions and the demons which never ceased to assault them. Emerging victorious over the passions and the adversary, she lived life as a new Mary of Egypt, dedicated to the Jesus Prayer. She spent her nights in prayer and her days in fasting, drinking only rainwater that gathered in the cleft of a rock that miraculously flowed like a spring. The Turkish scourge continued to ravage the region, and she gave up her cell to other nuns that had been driven from their monastery as well. Seeing this as a chance to regain some ground, the demons renewed their attacks, but they proved as powerless as before, unable to even get the attention of the athlete of Christ who treated them with utter disdain. Similar to her Egyptian predecessor, she was discovered by two monks that had been guided to her retreat by a pillar of light. Asking for a cloak to cover her nakedness, she greeted the men and begged for them to send a priest to her with the Holy Gifts. After receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, she departed this life in peace, her body giving off the fragrance of paradise.
Nicanor the Wonderworker of Mount Callistratus
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.
Mother Eupraxia
A kinswoman of Theodosius the Great, Saint Eupraxia was betrothed at a young age to an eligible young man, the son of a prominent Senator. The young child, however, had no other desire but to consecrate herself to Christ Jesus, trading an earthly bridegroom for a heavenly one. Having set herself to this course, she had her mother take her to a monastery in the Thebaid where, despite warnings about the austerity of their way of life, she could not be persuaded and she was clothed in the monastic veil. She immediately arranged for all her possessions to be given to the poor and zealously launched herself into the ascetic life empowered by devotion to her true spouse and the grace that was poured out on her in return. Thus it was that through fasting, prayer, vigils, and obedience that she overcame a demonic assault of impure thoughts. Seeing that he could not overcome her in that manner, the Devil decided to assault her body. He caused her to fall into a well, but she was carried to safety by invoking the Name of the Lord. He caused her to wound herself in the heel with an axe, but she crushed his head under her foot through remaining always in the presence of the Lord through service to her sisters, even while injured. He caused her to injure her face near her eye, but her vision of the invisible creation remained pure and clear. Finally, she was subjected to calumny by an envious sister, but Saint Eupraxia fell down before her begging for her forgiveness. Later, when the unfortunate nun was cast from the monastery for her lies, the Saint interceded for her to be allowed to return to the sisterhood. The Devil having been utterly defeated by his foe, God granted Saint Eupraxia the power to cast out demons which she did by impassively striking people with the abbess’s staff (even those who were so severely possessed that no one else would approach them).
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)
The Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian, the Romans
The great dispensers of God’s abundant mercy for the body and the soul, Saints Cosmas and Damian used their medicinal training as the outward explanation for the healing they wrought for their patients through calling on the Name of Jesus Christ. At this holy Name, both illnesses and demons fled instantly. Their fame having spread, they were denounced to the authorities in Rome. At first, the faithful prevailed upon them to hide in the mountains so they could continue their ministry. When, however, the pagans captured other Christians to endure torture and martyrdom in their place, the Saints chased down the convoy and revealed themselves to be the men for which they were looking. While they were being interrogated by the Emperor Carinus in Rome, the Saints pronounced the Lord’s therapeutic judgment on the Emperor who was inflicted with a twisting of his spine. In that state, acknowledged the God of the Christians and cried out for his help. He was delivered from the condition at the prayers of Saints Cosmas and Damian and accepted the Faith then and there. The saints were released, by the enemy never stopped looking for a chance to silence the holy unmercenaries. One day they were lured into the wilderness by a man who had befriended them for the purpose of getting close to them. Once there, he threw himself on them, murdered, them and buried their bodies in a shallow grave. When they didn’t return, the people began to search for them. Along the way, they encountered a man whom all knew to be demon possessed calm and in his right mind. When they asked him how he had been delivered, he took them to a place where he said he had been overcome by divine power. There they found the bodies of the two Saints. Since then, they have never ceased to work deliverance and healings for those who asked for their intercession.
Hymnography
Ye physicians of the sick and treasuries of healings, ye saviors of the faithful, O all-famed Unmercenaries, heal them that are in pain and cry out in need, as ye entreat the Good God that He deliver us from the snares of the enemy.
(The Entreaty, Fifth Troparion; Vespers)
Ye were see to be swords mortally wounding invisible adversaries; wherefore deliver us from their arrows also, and preserver our life, O wise Unmercenaries.
(Ode Four, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Strengthened with the might of Christ, ye have utterly destroyed all the power of him that is mighty in evil; from whose tyranny deliver us, as our unsleeping protectors, O Unmercenaries.
(Ode Five, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Having received the grace of healing, ye extend health to those in need, O glorious and wonderworking physicians. Hence, by your visitation, cast down the audacity of our enemies, and by your miracles, heal the world.
(Kontakion; Orthros Canon)
Committing your pure spirits unto the Lord, O Unmercenaries, ye received from Him the grace ever to drive out unclean spirits, from whose bitter wickedness do ye rescue us all.
(Ode Seven, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Gushing forth as rivers with the Spirit’s mightily flowing tides, pouring forth as a spreading sea, ye water creation with wonders and divine signs; with your cures, O God-bearers, which ye wondrously bestow, ye dry up sufferings that undermine the soul; ye heal our hard diseases and make unclean spirits to flee in fear, O ye Unmercenary Saints, who entreat in our souls’ behalf.
(Praises, First Troparion; Orthros)
Having the source of healing, O holy Unmercenaries, ye grant healing to all that make supplication, since ye have been deemed worthy of great gifts from the ever-flowing fountain of Christ the Savior. For the Lord hath said unto you, since ye have zeal like the Apostles: Behold, I have given you authority over unclean spirits, that ye might cast them out and heal every disease and every sickness. Wherefore, having lived well by His commandments, freely ye received, freely ye give, healing the passions of our souls and bodies.
(Praises, Doxastikon; Orthros)
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)
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.
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)