Category: Prayer

Indicates saints for whom their defeat of the demons was related to prayer.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Martyr Maura

After her husband had been put to the torture and imprisoned by Diocletian’s Prefect of Thebes, Arian, the tyrant hoped that he could get Saint Maura to convince her husband to renounce the faith order to save his life. Much to the contrary, after speaking with her husband, she too boldly confessed Christ and proclaimed that she was ready to die for Christ. After being subjected to multiple tortures to which she responded with disdain and ridicule at their impotence, Maura and her husband, Timothy, were crucified side-by-side having been tied to their crosses. Her patient and uncomplaining endurance proved to be a scourge to the demons, and, in order to end his humiliation, the Devil appeared to her as a man offering the saint milk and honey to pull down her vision from the creator to the created as he did with our first Mother. Maura, however, easily defeated this temptation through prayer. The Devil then redoubled his efforts at temptation by transporting her to an illusory land flowing with milk and honey. Filled with righteous anger at this further deception, the holy martyr rebuked the enemy of mankind saying the she preferred rather the draught of eternal life. Having been routed, the demon fled from the saint and, like when Christ was tempted in the wilderness, and angel came to minister to her. The next day, the 10th day of their crucifixion, Saints Maura and Timothy both carried off the martyrs crown.

Hymnography
August Martyr Maura blest of God, with thy brightly flashing visage and the light of thy grace, thou didst benight and dim the eyes of the evil tyrant; when thy foes tore out thy hair, though didst openly speak unto God; and with the water heated up in the seething cauldron, thou didst burn the unjust head of deceitful Belial.
(Second Troparion of the Saints, Lord, I have cried)

Clad with the breastplate of the Divine Spirit, O venerable Maura, thou joyfully wentest forth to wrestle with the adversary, and didst defeat him and didst receive the crowns of victory, O Martyr.
(Ode Five, Second Troparion, Orthros Canon)

In keeping the law of the Ruler of all, ye did not bow down to the rule of the transgressors; ye did not offer worship to the wicked demons, O noble Martyrs, heirs of the Lord.
(Ode Eight, First Troparion, Orthros Canon)

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Donatus, Bishop of Euroea

Motivated by love for his flock, the holy bishop of Euroea killed a dragon by striking it with a riding whip, thereby delivering villagers from the beast. At the same time, he sweetened the waters of a spring that had been poisoned by the dragon by his God-pleasing prayers. Having received word of these miracles, the Emperor Theodosius the Great and his wife entreated the saint to pray for their daughter who was being tormented by a demon. Saint Donatus rebuked the demon, and it immediately fled leaving the girl in peace. When offered a reward out of gratitude, the saint refused it asking instead for the sovereign to build a new church in his diocese. For these and other such things, Saint Donatus was venerated as the protector of Epirus.

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Joannicius of Devich

A lover of prayer and solitude, Saint Joannicius led the ascetic life in a cave on the Ibar River in eastern Serbia. Later, having established a monastery for the faithful who had gathered around him, he fled deeper into the wilderness of Devich in Kosovo where he lived in complete solitude for many years. There he held off the assaults of the demons who tried in vain to interrupt his ceaseless prayer of the heart. Word eventually came to the Despot of Serbia, George Brankovich (Saint Maksim), who brought his daughter who was mentally ill and possessed by a demon to the hermit, seeking his aide. Saint Joannicius delivered her by his prayer, and her grateful father had a church and monastery built there to thank God for his benefactions through his servant. After his death, the saint’s relics continued to work healings, especially for those tormented by the demons and mental illness.

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The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark

During his missionary journeys in Egypt, the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, the author of the Gospel that bears his name, cast out a demon from a blind child. Overcome with joy, the child’s parents wanted to pay Saint Mark for his services, but he instructed them to give it in alms instead. This miracle of deliverance resulted in many converts to the faith, and, as a result, a church was founded in the city. Continuing his journey, he eventually arrived in Libya where he heard about a woman who had recently died after having been tormented by a demon since childhood. The woman was restored to life by his prayer, and this, too, resulted in many converts to the faith.

Hymnography
Once Thou modest upon the arms of the Virgin and showiest to destruction the demon-altars of Egypt; and then again Thou sestets Mark thither, to give all men understanding of Thine Incarnation and divine mystery, O my Christ.
(Ode Three, Theotokion, Orthros Canon)

When thou becomes a disciple of the Chief Apostle, and with him didst preach Christ as the Son of God, thou modest steadfast on the rock of truth them that were storm-tossed with error. On this rock make me steadfast also, and guide the steps of my soul aright; that, being delivered from the snares of the enemy, I may glorify thee without hindrance. For thou hast enlightened all men, O wise Mark, by preaching the Gospel of divine renown.
(Oikos, Orthros Canon)