The Monk Daniel the Pillar-Dweller was born in the village of Bythar, near the city of Samosata in Mesopotamia. His mother Martha was childless for a long while and in her prayers gave a vow, that if she had a child, she would dedicate him to the Lord. Her prayers were heard, and Martha soon gave birth to a son, who until he was 5 years of age was without a name. The parents of the boy desired, that since he was born through the good-will of God, he should likewise receive from God his name. They took their son to a monastery located nearby and approached the hegumen. The hegumen gave orders to take down one of the Divine-service books, and at random having unrolled it, found in it the mention of the Prophet Daniel (commemorated 17 December). Thus did the lad receive his name. The parents asked that the lad might remain at the monastery, but the hegumen would not accept him, since he was still but a small boy. At 12 years of age, saying nothing to no one, the lad left home for the monastery. His parents were happy when they learned where their son was, and they went to the monastery. Seeing that he was still going about in his worldly clothes, they besought that the hegumen should attire him in the Angelic garb. And on that Sunday the hegumen fulfilled their request, but permitted them often to visit their son. The brethren of the monastery were astonished at the efforts of the monk. One
time on a visit to the monastery came Saint Simeon the Pillar-Dweller
(commemorated 1 September),
who foretold to the young monk, that he too would undertake the
feat of pillar-dwelling. The Monk Daniel continued on with his
ascetic life in seclusion. When in a vision the place of a new
exploit was revealed to him, he withdrew into the Thracian wilderness
together with two students, where they set up a pillar, upon which
the Monk Daniel dwelt for 33 years. People thronged to the pillar,
those who were misfortunate and those who were sick, and all received
from the Monk Daniel help and healing. Byzantine emperors likewise
besought the prayers of the holy ascetic. And from the numerous
predictions of the monk, the most notable was about a strong conflagration
in Constantinople. The Monk Daniel possessed also the gift of
gracious words. He guided many onto the path of correcting their
lives. The monk reposed in his 80th year.
The Monk Nikon the Lean, the son of rich and illustrious
parents, gave up everything for Christ and accepted monasticism
at the Kievo-Pechersk monastery. In the year 1096, during the
incursions of khan Bonyak, he together with other monks was taken
into captivity. Expecting a rich ransom, the captor treated the
Monk Nikon harshly. When the saint was refused ransom, the master
began to torment him with hunger, and left him exposed in the
heat of Summer and the cold of Winter. But the monk gave thanks
to God for everything and once said to his tormentor, that the
Lord, through the prayers of the Monks Anthony and Theodosius
would return him to his monastery, as the Monk Evstratii (+1097,
commemorated 28 March) had
predicted while appearing to him. The captor cut the leg-tendons
of the Monk Nikon and set a strong guard over him. But on the
third day at the sixth hour suddenly the holy captive became invisible,
at the moment the guard hear the words: "Praise the Lord from
the Heavens." And thus he was transported to the Divine Liturgy
at the Uspensk church. The brethren surrounded him and began to
ask how he got there. The Monk Nikon wanted to conceal the miracle.
But the brethren implored him to tell the truth. The Monk Nikon
wanted to continue his ascetic deeds in his fetters from captivity,
but the hegumen said: "If the Lord had wanted that thou shouldst
remain bound, He would not have delivered thee from captivity."
After a long while the former master of the Monk Nikon came to
the Kievo-Pechersk monastery and recognised his former captive,
withered up from hunger and wounds. He came to believed, accepted
Baptism, and having taken monastic tonsure, he himself became
an obedient (novice) under the Monk Nikon. The Monk Nikon died
at the beginning of the XII Century and was buried in the Nearer
Caves. His memory is celebrated also on 28
September and on the 2nd Sunday of Great Lent.
The Holy Martyr Mirax was born into a Christian family
that lived in the city of Tennes (Egypt) during the VII Century.
He was raised in piety, but yielded to demonic temptation and
renounced the Holy Cross, going over to the ruler of Egypt named
Amir, and taking up sword in hand he entered into the service
of the Arabs. His parents, grieving over the terrible downfall
of their son, prayed for him incessantly. And then the grace of
God illumined the heart of the prodigal. He deeply repented and
returned home. His parents counselled him to openly declare about
his fall into darkness and his repentance. Saint Mirax obeyed
them. The ruler condemned him to tortures, after which the saint
was beheaded and cast into the sea (this occurred not earlier
than the year 640). The Holy Martyrs Akepsios and Haifal hailed from Persia. Akepsios was a pagan priest in the city of Arbel. Having received healing through the prayers of a Christian bishop, he was converted to the faith in Christ and boldly confessed it. For this they threw Saint Akepsios into prison. Soon imprisoned with him was Saint Haifal, a deacon of the Arbel Church. They brought the martyrs before the ruler, where they again confessed their faith and were beheaded.
The Monk Luke the New Pillar-Dweller was a soldier
under the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrigenitos (912-959).
During the time of a war with Bulgaria (917), Saint Luke through
the Providence of God remained unharmed. After this he accepted
monasticism, and having succeeded in his efforts, was elevated
to the dignity of presbyter. Striving though towards an higher
degree of perfection, the monk put chains upon himself and went
up upon a pillar. After three years standing aloft, through a
Divine inspiration, he went to Mount Olympos, and then to Constantinople,
and finally to Chalcedon, where likewise he chose a pillar, upon
which he was aloft for 45 years, manifesting a gift of wonderworking.
He died in about the year 980.
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