As a zealous young monk, Saint Nicetas fell victim to the wiles of the Devil who inflamed him with vainglorious thoughts of becoming a recluse without the blessing of his abbot. Having shut himself up in a cave, one day he heard a voice, and, thinking he has been vouchsafed a divine vision, called out for the Lord to reveal himself. The Devil then appeared to him as angel of light and ordered him to stop praying saying that he (the “angel”) would pray in his stead. Furthermore, he commanded that he should read only from the Old Testament. The deceived and disobedient Nicetas prostrated himself before the vision and promised to obey. Some time later, the Devil began appearing regularly to provide his thrall with knowledge of things happening in the world that he could not otherwise have known. Thinking they were prophecies, he began proclaiming them to those visiting the monastery. As a result the monk’s fame increased and the Enemy of mankind was able to cast his net ever wider. When the elders of the monastery noticed that Nicetas never spoke to his visitors from the New Testament, they investigated the matter further in prayer and realized that he had fallen prey to the evil one. Breaking down the door to his cave, they routed the Devil by their prayer and called forth Nicetas like Lazarus from the tomb. Upon emerging, God granted him the consolation of a child-like mind, wiping away all trace of his fall, and leaving him only with an impression of the necessity of obedience. From that firm foundation, the abbot and elders built him into the very example of monastic humility and repentance using as their tools the common life of the brotherhood. He advanced so far in the path of holiness that he was eventually made the Bishop of Novgorod where he was the source of many blessings for his flock both before and after his death.
Category: Obedience
Indicates a saint for whom their defeat of the demons was related to their obedience to God, a saint sent by God to help them, or a Church authority that God had placed over them.
Arsenius the New of Paros
A member of the Kollyvades party, Saint Arsenius faced both persecution from those monk who opposed the practice of frequent communion as well as from the Turks whose revolution was sweeping across the region. As a result, he and his elder, Daniel of Zagora were often on the move. When they were able to settle in a monastery, he took on ascetic efforts comparable to that of his namesake, Saint Arsenius the Great, eating just enough to live, sleeping only a few hours at night, and spending the rest of his time wrapped in prayer. When Daniel died, Saint Arsenius also displayed his ongoing obedience out of love by remaining in the monastery and teaching the brethren – as much by deed as by word. Never a stranger to opposition even amongst his own brethren, the Saint perfected the evangelic virtue of love for enemies, and because of that as well as the voluntary suffering of asceticism that he took upon himself, God gave him the ability to protect the whole of island of Paros from the attacks of demons by his prayer.
Dorotheus of Gaza
A disciple of the great monastic elders of Gaza, Saints Barsanuphius and John, Saint Dorotheus longed for a life of strict ascesis, but his weak bodily constitution wouldn’t allow it. Lest he fall into despair and thereby make himself a target of the Devil, the Great Old Man (Barsanuphius) consoled him and instructed him to make every effort to deny the will of the flesh through an inner ascesis of the heart. So, beginning at cutting of his will in small things, he was able to progressively cut off his will in larger things. Eventually this led him to a heavenly detachment and impassibility through which God was able to act to crush the invisible enemy. This also cultivated within him other virtues, chief among them that of humility, compassion, and resilience which he used to guide his own disciples, especially Saint Dositheus. On one occasion, the noonday demon ferociously assailed him with an overwhelming sadness and acedia. The Saint cried out to the Lord for help, and he was granted a vision of an angel in the form of a Bishop who struck Dorotheus on the breast three times repeating the Psalm verse, “With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and he hearkened unto my supplication” (Psalm 39 LXX). As soon as this had happened, the angel disappeared, the demon fled, and the Saint’s heart was flooded with the Uncreated Light, joy, and peace. From that time forward he was never subjected again to sadness, acedia, or fear. The Saint’s most famous teaching on unity with both God and neighbor is known today as the Circle of Saint Dorotheos of Gaza wherein he describes a person as a point on the circumference of a circle. The person moves inward towards God represented as the point at the center of the circle. As the person draws nearer to God, they also draw near to others making the same journey as their paths converge. Thus he taught that, while our salvation is a gift from God, it also lies in our neighbor. Such a blessed unity cannot be overcome by the Enemy of Mankind.
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.
Martyr Laurence the Archdeacon of Rome
When Pope Saint Sixtus was denounced and arrested under the policies of the Emperor Valerian, Saint Laurence, his deacon, wanted to join him immediately in his sufferings. But the holy Bishop put him off to administer the affairs of the Church, foretelling that he would face even greater challenges. Longing to suffer, with His Father and Christ, Laurence set about his work with haste, faithfully distributing the Church’s goods to the poor and ensuring the election of the next Pope despite the persecution the Church faced. Having completed his task, he returned to the cortege before Pope Sixtus’ martyrdom had been accomplished and took his place at his side as as the Holy Table. Having heard him speak of the treasures of the Church, the Saint was made to appear before the Emperor and ordered to reveal the location of the riches. The Holy Deacon asked for three carts, took them into the city, loaded them with the poor and the sick and the lame, and brought them back to Valerian, presenting them as the true riches of the Church. Infuriated by this display of heavenly virtue, the tyrant demanded that Laurence sacrifice to idols or suffer torture and death. The Martyr replied by saying he would never worship the impotent demons that inhabited the idols in lieu of the Creator of all. As a result, he was cast into prison and tortured until he could be interrogated twice more. Each time he returned to the prison, God granted him the grace to work countless miracles for the imprisoned faithful, encouraging them to hold fast to the Faith. Finally, being placed on a grid iron, after some time he quipped that he was done on one side and needed to be turned over, so that he could properly offer himself as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Though the flames were to him as moist as dew, he gave up his soul to the Lord as a victorious athlete and soldier of Christ.
Hymnography
Having with thee the trophy of the Cross, O wondrous Laurence, thou didst advance mightily against thine adversaries; and when thou overcamest, thou wast shown to be a crown-bearer.
(Ode Three, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Walled about with the law of the life that is in Christ, O Martyr Laurence, thou didst not incline thy mind unto the legislators of death and corruption, as thou didst sing: O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
(Ode Seven, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Theodosius the New, the Wonderworker
Born in Athens, Saint Theodosius chose to pursue the Philosophy of the Kingdom rather than that of the world, and, as soon as he was able, received the Angelic Habit and departed for the wilderness in search of silence. There he was vouchsafed a vision of another desert-dweller, St. John the Forerunner, who encouraged him in the ascetic life and tasked him with building a Church. Overcoming the flesh and advancing in the direct experience of God, Saint Theodosius was granted the grace to work miracles and cast out demons. Motivated by fear, the Devil incited some unscrupulous men to accuse the Man of God of performing magic through the aid of demons. Banished by the Bishop of the Diocese, the Saint endured his exile with patience until the truth of the situation was revealed by a vision from the Lord. Thus, he vanquished the enemy through humility and obedience.
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).
Michael Maleinus
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.
Hypatius, Abbot of the Monastery of the Rufinianes
Escaping his home after a particularly intense beating from his earthly father, Saint Hypatius fled into the arms of his heavenly Father and became a monk. His experience in turning attacks meant for evil into good came became a path to salvation for his monks as the community was continually forced to endure invasions by the Huns and the Goths. Finally turning towards the protection of the Imperial City, he found the Monastery of the Rufinianes in a dilapidated state after being abandoned by its original inhabitants who had returned to Egypt. Moreover, it had become infested by demons who sought to claim for themselves a place that had previously been dedicated to the Lord. Upon his arrival, Saint Hypatius drove away the demons by his prayerful rebuke and settled his monks there. They labored intensely to scratch out a life, but they turned their deprivation into ascesis. Eventually, the Devil saw an opportunity to disrupt the way of life that so scorched him, and he caused a quarrel between the Saint and Timothy, one of his original companions that journeyed with him to Constantinople. In imitation of the Patriarch Abraham in the dispute with his nephew, Lot, Saint Hypatius humbled himself and withdrew to his former monastery. When the elder there became ill, he called the Saint and Timothy to him and exhorted them to be reconciled as the Apostles had done when they quarreled. They exchanged mutual forgiveness, overcoming the Evil One by obedience and love, and Hypatius was elected as abbot of the monastery.
James, who through Deception Venerated the Devil
Eager to test himself with great feats of asceticism, Saint James sought solitude before he was ready for it against the instructions of his spiritual father. Closing himself off in a cave, he hurled himself into a battle he did not understand, and, his efforts having seemingly been met with success, a destructive pride took root in his soul. After some time, a demon appeared to him the guise of an angel of light and told him to prepare himself because the Lord Himself would come to fill him with His Divine grace to an even greater degree. Having been thoroughly deceived, the disobedient and pretentious solitary made his preparations and, when a glorious figure appeared, Saint James prostrated himself before him. The devil, for that is who had actually appeared, then struck the man on the head and disappeared. Distraught and defeated, the monk left his retreat and went in tears to a holy elder who lived nearby. Seeing Saint James, the holy man exclaimed that he had been made a plaything of Satan, and instructed him to go and live the coenobitic life in a monastery. Obeying as he should have in the beginning, Saint James went and did just that. After long years of humility and obedience, he was given the blessing to retire to his cell where, as a well-seasoned warrior, he was able to achieve those things he had once tried to achieve out pf pride and out of order. Through faithfully keeping the strict rule of prayer given by his spiritual father, God eventually counted him worthy of the grace to work miracles. Redeemed and restored from his grievous fall, Saint James departed this life in peace.