Память преподобного Фостирия

The Monk Fostirios, shining like the sun in the east, enlightened those in darkness. Secluded on a high desert mountain, he remained in constant prayer to God, mortifying his flesh with fasting, night vigils, and a life full of deprivation. With his great asceticism he shone like a light in the universe, justifying the name he bore 284. Having cleansed his body and sanctified his soul through fulfilling the commandment of the Lord: “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24), the monk became the abode of the Holy Spirit. By the grace given by God, he healed ailments and all kinds of wounds from those who came to him with faith. Like the glorious prophet Elijah, our venerable father Fostirios received food from heaven. But it was not ravens who brought him food, as the scripture tells about the prophet (1 Kings 17:6), but the Angel of the Lord. This heavenly messenger daily laid out bread for the monk in a certain place, and when visitors came to the holy man, then in that place the monk found bread for their share. This glorious miracle of God’s favor took place not in a few days, as during the time of the holy prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel, but in all those many years when the Monk Fostirios remained in solitude and silence. When subsequently, with God's help, the Monk Fostirios founded a monastery in which numerous brethren gathered, he no longer received bread from heaven as before, but gave them food from the labors of his hands. This happened not because God became exhausted in His gracious help and not because He turned away from the saint’s prayer, especially since the holy father himself never prayed for food, remembering the commandment of Christ: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). But the Lord so wanted to give them food for their labors and therefore commanded His saint Fostirios not to accept anything from anyone, but to receive everything they needed from the labors of his hands. Without accepting any offerings himself, the monk taught his brethren to diligently practice prayer, spiritual reading and handicrafts, and he himself served as a constant example for them in this. During the life of Saint Fostirius, some heresies arose in the Church; To put an end to this temptation, a council was formed of many fathers, to which the Monk Fostirios was invited. The blessed one did not shy away from this new feat and, arriving at the council, courageously and convincingly confessed the right faith, so that many of the heretics returned to church communion. Others became monks, driven by the holy life of the great ascetic, through whose prayers many miracles were performed both during his temporary life and after his blessed repose before God, which followed on the evening before the feast of the Epiphany. Fostirius is a Greek name (from luminary), meaning illuminator. You might be interested in: