Житие преподобного отца нашего Авксентия

During the reign of Theodosius the Younger 1379 in Constantinople, at the royal court, one pious man, the son of Adda the Persian, named Auxentius, occupied an important position. He was revered by all as a nobleman, well versed in the Divine Scriptures, as well as secular sciences, and as a man known for his good deeds. This Auxentius was acquainted with the Monk Marcian, who was later an icon in the great Church, and also knew the virtuous monk John, who lived at the church of St. John the Baptist on the outskirts of Constantinople, which was known under the name “Evdoma,” and had friendly relations with other pious men. Wanting to imitate their life, Auxentius left the vanity, glory and excitement of this world, and became a warrior of the heavenly King Christ, taking monastic vows. At first he served the Lord in the rank of deacon, then in the presbyterate, and was honored to receive such power over demons that he could drive away evil spirits from people, for which everyone in Constantinople glorified him. But Saint Auxentius was not looking for human glory: it was heavy for him; Striving for a silent life, he left the populous city, went to Bithynia and came to one desert mountain called Oxia, which was located ten stages from Chalcedon. He liked the place; he went up the hill and, raising his holy hands, began to glorify God there, saying: “For you, O Lord, alone allow me to live in safety” (Ps. 4:9). And the saint settled on that mountain, which was later nicknamed “Auxentia” by his name, by which name this mountain is mentioned in the life of the Monk Stephen, who suffered from the iconoclasts, and who later lived on this mountain. While living on this mountain, the Monk Auxentius was found here by shepherds; They were looking for their lost sheep, which they found through the prayers of the monk. From that time on, rumors about the saint spread, so that many people began to come to him: some to receive physical healing, for through the prayers of the saint they recovered from all sorts of illnesses, others - for spiritual benefit. Then pious people from the surrounding villages gathered and built a cell for the monk at the very top of the mountain. Enclosed in it, the saint talked through a small window with those who came to him, teaching virtues and healing the sick, for he was like a healing spring, filled with God's grace, so that people from different cities came to him as to a free doctor. One day, the wife of a certain comite 1380, who had lost her sight, came to Auxentius from Nicomedia and began to pray to him: - Have mercy on me, servant of the Most High God! To this the monk answered her, addressing all those present there: – I am a sinful person; like you, I am also subject to passions. If you believe that He who healed the blind from birth will not despise this woman, then let us all pray to the Lord for her with zeal. When everyone was praying, the saint touched her eyes and said: – Jesus Christ, the true light, heals you. Immediately the woman received her sight, and everyone began to glorify God. In gratitude for her healing, she gave generous alms to the beggars who were at the foot of that mountain and asked for alms from those who came to the saint; and he himself took care of them, distributing to them through his disciples the bread brought to him. In addition to the gift of giving healing, the monk also had another gift - the gift of clairvoyance. So, one day two people came to him, one Orthodox, the other a follower of heretics; The Orthodox saint received him kindly and talked with him for a long time about spiritual benefits, but with the heretic he did not say a word, foreseeing his unbelief. When they departed from the saint, then that heretic began to blaspheme the monk and reproach him, calling him a hypocrite. Before they had time to reach their houses, a servant met the heretic on the way, who told him that his daughter had been possessed by a demon who was now tormenting her greatly. This news greatly saddened the heretic; he repented of his sins, took his daughter, possessed by an unclean spirit, to the Monk Auxentius and began to humbly pray to the saint that he would heal his daughter, and she would be healed from the torment of the demon, and her father - from his evil faith. Another time, two lepers came to Auxentius with a request to heal them. The saint asked them: – What are your sins that such a punishment was sent down on you by God? They, having bowed to the saint, asked: – Have mercy on us, servant of Christ, and pray for our healing. To this the saint answered them: “Brethren, illness has befallen you because you are accustomed to often swearing and swearing, which is what aroused the wrath of God upon yourself. Hearing these words of the saint, they were greatly amazed that the saint knew their sins; Having fallen to the ground before the monk, they repented of their sin. Auxentius took pity on them, anointed them with sacred oil from head to toe and said: – Jesus Christ heals you, and I myself am a sinful man. Immediately the lepers were healed of their illness. One day they brought a paralytic man lying on his bed to the saint in a chariot; The parents of this man, falling to the monk, said to him with tears: “Our son suffered from relaxation due to the multitude of our sins. Then Auxentius asked them: – Do you believe that God can give healing to your son through me, a sinner? – Truly you are an Angel sent down for our salvation, and we believe that everything is possible with God. To this the monk answered: - May you be according to your faith. And taking the sacred oil, he anointed the entire body of the paralytic with it; the latter immediately rose completely healthy; everyone who saw this miracle glorified the Lord God. It is impossible to talk about all those cases when the saint drove out demons: a great many people were delivered through the prayers of the saint from unclean spirits, so that a large number of demon-possessed people constantly came to the saint from different, even distant countries, and others were brought by force to the saint, and they all received deliverance from unclean spirits through his holy prayers. This blessed ascetic received such great strength and power over demons from God. Saint Auxentius was also called to the Fourth Ecumenical Council of the Holy Fathers, which took place in Chalcedon 1381; here he did a lot of work, opposing the Eutychean heresy and Nestorian evil faith, which is why he suffered a lot of oppression from heretics. But the pious King Marcian greatly revered him, and all the holy fathers loved him very much; and indeed, he was a famous member of the council, distinguished by his wisdom and miracles, his right faith; it was impossible to argue with him, since he knew all the Holy Scriptures well. In a word, what is written applies to him: “Who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” (Luke 24:19). Having established the true Orthodox faith at this council, together with the other holy fathers, Saint Auxentius again returned to his deserted mountain in his solitary cell. On the way to Chalcedon, both there and back, he performed many glorious miracles, casting out demons from people, healing every disease and illness. Even while in his cell, he provided great benefit to the universe, setting an example of virtuous living, as well as with his spiritual teachings, which everyone who came to him from different countries enjoyed, as well as marveled at the miracles he performed. With his perspicacious eyes, Saint Auxentius saw distant things with such clarity as if they were in front of him - he could see both disembodied blessed spirits and the souls of the righteous. So, one day, having locked himself in his cell for the night, he began to offer his usual prayers to God, and the disciples and those who came to the saint were outside his cell and had not yet had time to go to sleep; suddenly the monk, unexpectedly, contrary to his custom, opened his window and said in a loud voice: - Blessed be the Lord God! Blessed be the Lord God! Blessed be the Lord God! With these words, he sighed heavily and bowed his head to the ground. When everyone stood and did not dare question him, he said: - Children! The luminary in the east, our father Simeon, went to the Lord Having said this, he began to cry heavily; then, after a while, he said again: - Our Holy Father, the pillar and affirmation of the truth, - Simeon the Stylite has fallen asleep; his immaculate and pure soul, passing by, did not disdain to greet me, a sinner and a bad person. Hearing these words, everyone was amazed and amazed at the power of his insight and remembered the hour when the saint told them this news; Then the news of the death of Saint Simeon the Stylite was brought to King Leo, who ascended the throne after Marcian, and this rumor spread everywhere. Then the disciples of Auxentius, having learned about the death of the saint, could once again be convinced of the truth of the words of their holy mentor: the time of his death actually coincided with the time of the saint’s prediction. Soon after the repose of blessed Simeon the Stylite, the blessed death of Saint Auxentius, who had already reached old age, approached; Then this saint of God departed in peace to the Lord, who led a pious and God-pleasing life, with his blessing established many monasteries in different places, was the spiritual leader of the entire Bithynia region and guided many on the path of salvation 1382. Desert dweller, and in the body an Angel and a miracle worker appeared to our God-bearing Father Auxentius: by fasting, vigil, and prayer, I received heavenly gifts, healing the sick and the souls of those who flow to you by faith. Glory to Him who gave you strength, glory to Him who crowned you, glory to Him who heals you all. Theodosius the Younger reigned from 408 to 450. Comites were originally called the companions of the highest official in the province, and later the companions of the emperors, who made up their closest retinue. Since the time of Constantine the Great, the title of all court and government officials, even if they did not belong to the imperial retinue. The 4th Ecumenical Council took place in 451. Saint Auxentius died during the reign of Leo the Great, around 470. You might be interested in: