VENERABLE AUXENTIOS OF THE MOUNTAIN
February 14th
Του
Οσίου Πατρός ημών Αυξεντίου του εν Βουνό
By origin a Syrian, he served at the court of the
emperor Theodosius the Younger (418-450). He was known as a virtuous, learned
and wise man, and he was, moreover, a friend of many of the pious men of his
era.
Distressed by worldly vanity, St. Auxentios
accepted ordination to the holy priesthood, and then received monastic tonsure.
After this he went to Bithynia and found a solitary place on Mount Oxia, not far
from Chalcedon, and there he began the life of a hermit (This mountain was
afterwards called Mt. Auxentios). The place of the saint's efforts was
discovered by shepherds seeking their lost sheep. They told others about him,
and people began to come to him for healing. St. Auxentios healed many of the
sick and the infirm in the name of the Lord.
In the year 451 St. Auxentios was invited to the
Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon, where he denounced the Eutychian and
Nestorian heresies. Familiar with Holy Scripture and learned in theology, St.
Auxentios easily bested those opponents who disputed with him. After the end of
the Council, St. Auxentios returned to his solitary cell on the mountain. With
his spiritual sight he saw the repose of St. Symeon the Stylite (459) from a
great distance.
St. Auxentios died about the year 470, leaving
behind him disciples and many monasteries in the region of Bithynia. He was
buried in the Monastery of St. Hypatios at Rufiananas, Syria.
Source:
OCA
