Saint Pachomius the Great, the founder of the coenobitic life and a bright star in the Orthodox firmament, laid the foundation of his God-pleasing life by embracing asceticism out of an all-consuming love for the Lord. Under the direction of a particularly severe spiritual father, his manner of life consisted of long hours of prayer, alone and especially during the night, and with intense fasting, all for the purpose of keeping the remembrance of God first and foremost in his mind and heart. During his night vigil he was often attacked by the demons, but he was able to put them to flight by rebuking them and lifting up praise to God. When their attacks became more severe, he resolved not to sleep until God had routed the invisible enemy, offering his suffering the the Lord as a sweet smelling sacrifice. Seeing such a firm foundation built upon the rock of Christ, the Lord sent an angel with a rule for living the monastic life in a community as well as people who would be governed by that rule. The rule was marked by a heavenly adaptability which made it appropriate for the novice as well as the most advanced while also allowing both to live the common life together. As the leader of the community, the man of God was given the gift of insight which allowed him to be a true physician of the soul, the healing of which he regarded as far superior to the healing of the body. In response to his prayer, the Lord healed the sick and delivered those who had been possessed by demons. In all of this, Saint Pachomius cultivated humility by submitting everything to the will of God, refusing to resort to coercion of God or man. If the Lord heard his prayer and acted, then thanks be to God; if not, he never let his countenance fall or his heart be troubled. In either circumstance he saw only one true remedy, the Name of Christ and the cultivation of life in His presence. This closeness to the Lord allowed him faithfully uncover illnesses of soul and body and their sources — whether the demons or the passions — and to apply the correct course of treatment.
Hymnography
When thou hadst been raised above all things of sense and perception, thou most purely didst converse with the Master, having passed far beyond the flesh; for with they valiant mind, thou didst conquer passions and cats down and trample underfoot demons’ audacity, O all-honored Father Pachomius. And now as thou dost dwell on high in the tabernacles of Heaven’s courts, keep all in remembrance who honor thy memorial with joy, as thou, O blest one, dost boldly stand in the holy presence of Christ.
(Third Troparion of the Saint; Lord, I have cried)
We, the multitudes of monastics, honor thee, our teacher, O Pachomius, our Father; for through thee have we learned to walk the path that is truly straight. Blessed are thou, who hast labored for Christ, and hast triumphed over the might of the enemy, O companion of the angels, and co-dweller of the righteous and the just. Together with them, do thou intercede with the Lord that He have mercy on our souls.
(Doxastikon of the Saint; Lord, I have cried)
Not enduring to behold the earnestness of thine asceticism, O righteous and God-bearing Father, the hordes of the adversaries devised diverse temptations for thee.
(Ode Three, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thou didst trample upon the devices of the spirits of destruction, O Father, since thou wast clad in the power of thy Master and fenced about with the precious cross.
(Ode Six, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Category: Prayer
Indicates saints for whom their defeat of the demons was related to prayer.
Pausicacius, Bishop of Synnada
An unmercenary physician of the body in the world, Saint Pausicacius became a monk and also began caring for the souls of those who came to him for aid. He especially enjoyed cases that had otherwise been given up as hopeless. Having increased his ascetic striving, the Lord worked miraculous healings by his prayers, setting aright deformities of the body (especially children), and casting out demons that caused deformities of the soul. Later, as a result of his growing renown, he was made Bishop of Synnada where he rightly divided the word of truth showing zeal for the true Faith.
Martyr Nicolas the New of Vouneni
A commander in the army of Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Wise, Saint Nicolas was sent to guard the town of Larissa. Under threat of invasion by Arab military attachments who were ravaging the outskirts of the empire, he ordered the evacuation of the city and retreated into the mountains to a skete of ascetics with 14 faithful companions. After devoting themselves to prayer and fasting, they were warned by an angel to prepare to offer their lives to the Lord as His martyrs. They were eventually overrun, captured and tortured by their enemies, and all but Saint Nicolas were martyred. Having survived this initial ordeal, he found and dwelt in a cave wherein he lived the hesychast life to prepare to join his friends in martyrdom. As a result of his ascetic efforts he overcame the passions and the assaults of the demons who attempted to put him off his purpose. Having won the spiritual victory, he eventually carried off the crown martyrdom at the hands of the same barbarians had been searching for him since his escape.
Tarasius of Lycaonia, the Wonderworker
Seeking the Lord from his childhood through fasting, prayer, vigils, and tears, Saint Tarasius offered himself to God as a living sacrifice and was thus granted the grace to work miracles. Through this gift he was able to cast out demons by his prayers amongst other wondrous signs of God’s care for the faithful.
Seraphim of Dombos
Fleeing his reputation as a wonderworker and physician of souls that brought him endless streams of visitors, Saint Seraphim moved constantly establishing new communities of monastics wherever he went. After having resolved to stay in a specific place, the Mother of God appeared to him explaining that his current location was ill-suited to his purposes and instructing him to return to one of his previous stops to establish a permanent settlement. He obeyed immediately, a virtue he had consciously cultivated since he entered the monastery, and set to work. When the crowds returned, he was granted the particular gift of helping those possessed by demons, freeing them through prayer and fasting.
Righteous Job the Long-Suffering
In the Old Testament book that bears his Name, the Lord holds up Job to Satan as a uniquely faithful servant in his time. The accuser, hoping to add the righteous one to his rebellion, challenges God to withdraw his hand of protection so that the he can strike his possessions, family, and his health. The enemy of mankind asserts that if the Lord allowed this, that Job would respond by cursing him. God permits Satan to proceed so that his glory and righteousness can be revealed through his servant. Having lost all but his life, Job goes into mourning failing to understand why these things have befallen him. Hearing of his misfortunes, Job’s friends come to mourn and speak with him. They suggest that he is being punished for some sin that he has committed in the past, but Job is unaware of anything for which he needs to repent. The friends then accuse him of trying to justify and declare himself righteous over and against God’s judgment. The righteous one denies this as well explaining that, even if he was not aware of anything for which he could reproach himself, he could still not justify himself before God for no one is righteous before Him. Finding no consolation from his friends but only further torment, Job asks to be judged by God directly. The Lord responds by speaking directly to him describing his creation of all things as well as his care and rule over the smallest of details, including Job’s trials which were not allowed as a punishment but to reveal God’s righteousness. Having realized that his very suffering constituted a revelation of the incomprehensibility of the unfathomable God, Job confesses that in the past he had heard about the Lord, but that now, seeing Him, he truly regards himself as just dust and ashes. As such, he intercedes that his friends be forgiven of their sins. In response to his humility and trust, the Lord restores Job, giving Him more blessings than he had previously received. Thus, he triumphs over the wiles of the enemy by his humility and a true understanding of who he is and Who God is.
Hymnography
Thinking it would not be easy to overturn the just man while he was fenced about with wealth, the adversary requested him, and violently wrestling with him when he was naked, was himself cast down and broken; for through his patience, the just man cried out: Let us sing unto our God, for gloriously is He glorified.
(Ode One, Third Troparion, Orthros Canon)
Through a wife’s words the serpent, the author of evil, struck at thees he did to the author of our race; but he that boasted without measure was cheated of his villainy.
(Ode Three, Third Troparion, Orthros Canon)
Come, let us all bless Job, that pure and blameless man, who in the Spirit’s strength was an immovable and mighty pillar that stood firm before all the foe’s devices. Let us sing his praise in faith; he is truly a very great servant of our Savior Christ, and he pleaders in our behalf, imploring Christ with earnest entreaty to rescue our should from every peril.
(Sessional Hymn, Orthros Canon)
Having built an invincible stronghold for thy soul, O glorious one, thou didst courageously withstand the terrible billows of the enemy.
(Ode Five, Third Troparion, Orthros Canon)
The adversary of the just, though he smote thee with evil sores and stripped thee of thy goods, was not able to bow down the tenor of thy soul; but thou didst cry out in song: O God of our Fathers, blessed are Thou.
(Ode Seven, Third Troparion, Orthros Canon)
Job is worthily crowned with the splendor of patience, but thou, O Satan, dost lament and art dejected, unable to bear the crowning of the just man; for having cherished vain hopes, thou hast been put to shame, O thou who alone art utterly hostile to the just.
(Ode Nine, First Troparion, Orthros Canon)
Hilary the Wonderworker
Saint Hilary took up his cross to follow Christ in his youth, starting his battle against the passions as early as possible. Having subjected the flesh to the spirit, he was granted the grace to heal ailments of soul and body, delivering the faithful from illnesses and casting out demons. He was also able to overcome the order of nature by his prayer, calming storms, turning back rivers, making arid deserts fertile, and taming wild animals.
Theodosius, Abbot of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves
The founder of the coenobitic life in Russia, each Great Lent Saint Theodosius withdrew to the cave in which he began the ascetic life at the feet of Saint Antony (July 10th). There he prepared for the Feast of Feasts through fasting and prayer, by which he also overcame the repeated assaults of the demons. The holy abbot primarily taught the Faith through prayer, placing a special emphasis on caring for the poor. For his perseverance in prayer and charity, the Lord granted him the ability to cast out unclean spirits, heal the sick, and to know the hearts of those who came to him for help.
Peter the Wonderworker, Bishop of Argos
From a pious family zealous for the Faith, Saint Peter was brought up in the monastic life by his brother, Paul, who instilled in him a love for hesychia. Abandoning himself completely to the ascetic life, he quickly surpassed his brother and was eventually granted the grace of working miracles. Although he tried to avoid it out of humility, he was eventually made Bishop of Argos after the people of city prevailed upon him with tears. The holy bishop immediately became a source of consolation, and no one who came to him left without receiving his help — both physically and spiritually. His charity was so immense before the God, that, by his prayers, the Lord delivered from bondage those who had been possessed by demons. Saint Peter remains the patron and protector of the city of Argos to this day.
Xenia the Wonderworker
A beautiful woman made all the more radiant by her acquisition of the Christian virtues, the regional prefect, Dometian, hired a magician to cast a love spell on Saint Xenia who he wanted for his wife. The saint easily defeated the dark arts by the power of the cross, and declared the Lord to be her heavenly spouse. Enraged by her faithfulness to Christ, the prefect subjected her to various forms of torture which proved just as powerless as the spell enwrapped as she was in prayer. When he, nonetheless, convinced himself that she was ready to renounce her faith for him, he took her to a pagan temple to offer sacrifice, but the saint immediately cast down the idols by her prayer. Incensed by her continued rejection, Dometian eventually had her beheaded and her heart delivered to him on a platter as if he were a new Herod.