Category: Rebuke

Indicates saints who rebuked the demons during their defeat of them.

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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)

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Basil the Blessed, Fool for Christ and Wonderworker of Moscow

An ascetic from his early childhood, Saint Basil the Blessed took upon himself the peculiar ascesis of a Fool for Christ which, by God’s grace, experienced a flowering in 16th Century Russia. The most famous of these ascetics in that land, many of the most characteristic behaviors associated with that way of life were present in the life of the saint. For example, when passing the dwellings of those who lives in repentance and holiness, he cast stones at the corners of the houses. He explained that, because demons were not welcome in such homes, they congregated outside searching for a way in. Pelted by the Saint’s prayers symbolized by the rocks, they were driven away from those homes.

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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).

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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)



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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.

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Paisius the Great

The Great Shepherd of the Egyptian desert, went out to Nitria to be with Abba Pambo who received into Holy Monasticism. Seeking to establish his new disciple in humility, the old man instructed him to keep his eyes on the ground never looking anyone in the face. This allowed Saint Paisius to keep his mind directed towards God in all places and circumstances despite outward distractions. After the death of his spiritual father, the Saint retreated further into the desert where he devoted himself to intense feats of asceticism in praise of God. It was not long, however, till other monks began to gather around him to learn his way of life. Abba Paisius preemptively warded off attacks by the Devil by making sure that their material needs were met such that they had just enough to survive. God also granted him the grace of discernment such that once when he was offered a great sum of money, he politely refused seeing that the endurance of poverty through trust in Christ Jesus was a great source of grace and blessing to the monks. He used this same gift to help his monks discern between temptations that originated in their passions and those that were enflamed by demonic suggestion. Seeing the intrigues of the enemy for what they were, he rebuked the devil and forced a confession from him that he and his demons did not assail beginners due to their zeal and the initial protection of divine grace they had been given by God. Rather, they waited till the Lord withdrew somewhat in order to test them, and then they attacked through deception causing negligent monks to fall into their traps with ease. With such foresight, Abba Paisius was able to train his monks into experienced spiritual warriors agains the Evil One and his demons.

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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.

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Arsenius of Konevets

A Russian monastic who was always looking to deepen his experience of hesychia, Saint Arsenius left for the Holy Mountain with a group of Athonite monks who had visited his monastery. Having arrived in the garden of the Theotokos, like a new Publica, he regarded himself as the least worthy of all who had ever set foot there. This deep and sincere humility led him ever more deeply into repentance, passing every night in prayer. Having richly inherited the phronema of Athos, he decided to return to his country and found a monastery dedicated to the Mother of God there. After receiving the blessing of his Archbishop, he located a place well suited for the ascetic life – the abandoned island of Konevets on Lake Ladoga. On the island he found a ruined pagan shrine that was infested by demons, but they fled at his rebuke not being able to withstand the fire of his humility. The monastery was firmly established, and many monks came to join him there.

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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.

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Martyr Lucillian or Nicomedia

A priest of a pagan temple in Nicomedia, Saint Lucillian embraced Christianity and repudiated his former position by refusing to offer sacrifice to the Gods. The Governor of the region, Silvanus, saw this as a threat against the peace of the Empire and began searching for the saint, offering a reward for anyone who wold revealed his location. The holy Martyr’s location was revealed, and he was arrested along with other members of the faithful. After being ordered to offer a public sacrifice to the Gods, Saint Lucillian flatly refused explaining that there was no point whatsoever to making an offering to stones carved by the hand of man and to foul demons. As such, he invited the tyrant to do his worst as a servant of the Evil One. The tortures that he patiently had no effect on the Saint who seemed not to even notice them. The next day, the Governor repeated his order for the Saint to make sacrifice under penalty of being thrown into a fiery furnace. The Saint refused saying he had nothing to fear from a temporary fire and would gladly endure it to avoid an eternal one. Four children took up the same cry. The enraged tyrant had them all cast into the furnace, but they were preserved like the Three Holy Children in Babylon. Fearing lest their triumph cause more converts, Silvanus had them all transferred to Chalcedon where they were given one more chance to worship the gods. When the Saint again refused, he was crucified while praising God for being found worthy to suffer a death like that of his Lord.