ON ST. THEODOSIUS OF ANTIOCH, ABBOT OF THE MONASTERY ON THE CLIFF.
Circa A.D. 412.
PrefaceTheodosius, Abbot of Antioch, on the Cliff (S.)
Two men named Theodosius are celebrated by the Greeks on this day, both of whom began with an anchoretic life and both afterward became founders of a famous monastery. To the younger the name "Coenobiarch" became attached; to the elder, the name "Antiochene," for he came from that city, while the other was from Cappadocia. Of the Antiochene we give here a double life: one from the Menaea, the other from chapter 10 of the Philotheus, that is, book 9 of the Lives of the Fathers, by the contemporary author Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus. Two Abbots named Theodosius on this day. We append accounts of miracles performed by the same, from chapters 80, 81, and 85 of the Spiritual Meadow, or book 10 of the Lives of the Fathers, in which book frequent mention is made of this St. Theodosius and his monastery, and the virtues and miracles of various anchorites who afterward lived in his monastery are described, as in chapters 82, 83, 84, 86, 90, 91, 95, and 109 -- in which the mountains of the monastery of the Abbot St. Theodosius in Syria are repeatedly named, and indeed one of them is called Phterigius, above Rhosus, near the Priapus River and next to the monastery of Abbot Theodosius on the Cliff. Many things, however, are narrated in the same book about the monastery of St. Theodosius the Coenobiarch, which are wrongly attributed in the chapter headings to the monastery of St. Theodosius of Antioch, or on the Cliff.
LIFE
From the Menaea of the Greeks.
Theodosius, Abbot of Antioch, on the Cliff (S.)
Author: Theodoret.
[1] This holy Father of ours was a different ascetic, or anchorite, from the former Theodosius -- a citizen of Antioch, The homeland and family of St. Theodosius. born of distinguished parents. When he once listened more attentively to the words of the Lord, he left behind his home, wealth, kinsmen, and all other things, and entering forests near the sea, he erected a very small cell. Embracing the solitary life, he put on garments of haircloth His eremitic life, most austere. and wore heavy iron chains inside -- one hanging from his neck, another binding his loins, and one on each hand. Intent on prayers and manual labor, he subdued and broke the base desires of the body, pride, His outward exercise. and other wicked passions. His hair was matted and hung down to his feet. He would at times weave baskets; at other times he cultivated small gardens on the cliff and sowed vegetables, from which he prepared food for himself and for pilgrims who came.
[2] But as time went on, when the fame and glory of the man spread far and wide, and crowds of people came to him frequently, Disciples. those who wished to follow his life and manner of living -- he received them and turned the wilderness into a kind of heavenly city.
[3] When the Agarenes, or Saracens, were overrunning the vicinity of that desert, Reverence among the barbarians, the Blessed man was left unharmed, for they reverenced his appearance and withdrew. Nevertheless, Theodosius, fearing their more frequent passage, left that solitude and returned to his homeland, Return to his homeland, and there set up a small hut, where with his companions in life he devoted himself to heavenly exercises. He told his countrymen that, although the Agarenes had reverenced them at that time, it was nevertheless written in sacred Scripture for our caution that we should "give place to wrath" Rom. 12:19 -- and that Christ himself had fled from Herod into Egypt Matt. 2, to teach us not to expose ourselves to dangers. For what harm does one's homeland do to those wishing to practice the religious life? When therefore he had survived there for a little while, he departed to Heaven.
NotesANOTHER LIFE
From the Philotheus of Theodoret, chapter 10.
Theodosius, Abbot of Antioch, on the Cliff (S.)
[1] Rhosus is a town of Cilicia, to the right as one sails into the Cilician Sea. To its east and south is a high, spacious, and shady mountain, The cell of St. Theodosius, which nourishes wild animals in its forests. When the great and widely celebrated Theodosius found a certain grove tending toward the sea on this mountain, he built a small dwelling and embraced the evangelical way of life alone. His homeland and family. He was a man from Antioch by origin and distinguished by the fame of his lineage; but nevertheless, having left behind both home and kinsmen and all other things, he bought the most precious pearl, to speak in evangelical terms Matt. 13:46. As for his abstinence from food and how he slept on the ground The austerity of his life. and wore haircloth, it is superfluous to speak of these things to those who see his disciples and companions and observe in them the same manner of life. Yet he pursued these things in a remarkable way, as one who set himself forth as a model for those who contended. To these he added the weight of iron on his neck, his loins, and both hands. Moreover, he also wore matted hair that reached His long hair, down to his very feet and even extended beyond, and therefore it was tied around his loins.
[2] Using prayer Prayer, and hymnody continually, he lulled to sleep desire, anger, arrogance, and the other beasts of the soul. Always adding labors to labors, he also pursued the work done with the hands: Manual labor. now weaving the baskets that are so called, and wicker frames; now making small plots of land in the valley and casting seeds, and gathering from them what sufficed for sustenance.
[3] After his fame had spread in every direction as time went on, Disciples, many gathered from many places, desiring to be companions of his dwelling, labor, and way of life. Receiving them, he led them to the same life. One could see some weaving sailcloth, others making garments from skins, others plaiting wicker frames or baskets, and others tilling the earth. And since the place was on the coast, they also built a certain small vessel called a ponton for transport, and used it for importing and exporting the work of those who lived together, and for bringing in necessities. 2 Thess. 3:8. For remembering the Apostolic voice which says, "Working night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you"; and: "These hands have ministered to me and to those who were with me" Acts 20:34 -- he himself labored and exhorted his companions Exhortation to labor. to join bodily labors to the labors of the soul. For it is absurd that those who are nourished in secular life, afflicting themselves and laboring, should feed children and wives, and moreover pay taxes and have tribute exacted from them, and offer firstfruits to God, and minister as they can to the poverty of beggars; while we should not seek what is necessary from our labors, even though we use cheap and modest food and cheap clothing, but should sit with folded hands and enjoy the labors of others. Saying these things and the like, he urged them to work, performing the divinely prescribed offices at the proper times, and devoting the intervening time to labor.
[4] He took no small care of guests, entrusting them to men adorned with gentleness and courtesy of manners Hospitality, and endowed with love for their neighbor, that they might provide for them. He himself visited and inspected everything, examining whether each person was fulfilling his duty according to the laws laid down. Hence it came about that his fame was so remarkable and celebrated that sailors Miracles, who were more than a thousand stadia away would invoke the God of Theodosius in their dangers, and would calm the tempest by invoking the name of Theodosius.
[5] Bold and fierce enemies also reverenced him -- those who had devastated the greatest part of the East. For who among those dwelling in our inhabited world has not heard of the things done at that time Reverence among the barbarians, by those who were once called the Solymi and are now called the Isauri? Yet they, who spared neither town nor village, and plundered and burned to the ground whatever they could seize, reverenced that philosophy, and when they had merely asked for bread and signified that he should pray for them, they left that monastery unharmed -- and did this not once but twice. Return to his homeland, and why. However, the leaders of the churches, fearing lest that great light be carried off captive through a desire for money instilled in those barbarians by the devil (for it was likely that a great sum of money would be sent by all who hold divine matters in honor, for his ransom), persuaded him to betake himself to Antioch. For they had already taken captive two leaders of the churches, whom they treated with every kind of duty; but when they had received fourteen thousand gold pieces for both, they permitted them to return wherever they wished. When he reached Antioch, he dwelt in a lodging he found situated near the river, and drew to himself all who know how to gather such things.
[6] While the impulse of the narrative carries me forward, I have omitted narrating a miracle performed by that divine man, which to many will perhaps seem incredible, A stream drawn from the rock by prayers. but which endures to this very day, testifying by its continued existence and showing what kind of grace and confidence this admirable man obtained with God. A steep rock overhangs the monastery that he built. It was at first dry and devoid of all moisture. On it he made a conduit that carries water from the summit to the monastery, as if he had the control of the flow of waters in his power. Full of confidence in God and firmly believing, as is likely, that the Lord was favorably disposed toward him, and having a faith that admitted no doubt, he ascended to the top of what is now the aqueduct before his companions had risen for their customary prayers. Having prayed to God, trusting in him who does the will of those who fear him, he struck the rock with the staff on which he leaned. The rock split open, and water gushed forth like a river; entering the monastery through the aqueduct and supplying abundantly what suffices for every use, it flows into the nearby sea. And to this day it is shown, the grace of the great Theodosius working Mosaic wonders. Ps. 145:19. This alone suffices to demonstrate this man's confidence in God.
[7] When he had lived at Antioch for a short time, he departed to the choirs of Angels. Death. Through the middle of the city the sacred body was carried, Funeral. that bier being adorned, as with certain golden crowns, since all the military commanders had gathered, and those who held great offices entrusted to their fidelity. Relics. Over his bed there was a great quarrel and contention, since all struggled to take it away and to receive from it blessing and benefit. Thus borne forth, he is placed in the church of the holy Martyrs, since he had been the companion and housemate of Julian, Burial. that athlete illustrious in the victory of piety. The same coffin received him which had also received that divine and blessed Aphraates.
[8] The governance of the flock was assumed by the admirable Helladius, His successor, who spent sixty continuous years in those places, and was then divinely chosen as Bishop of the Cilicians. He did not abandon his former philosophy, but daily added the labors of the pontificate to those earlier ones. When the blessed Romulus also had been his pupil, he was made leader of a very great flock. The monastery. That company has endured to this day, preserving the same manner of life. Near the monastery is a village called in Syriac Maratus. Invocation. And now, imposing an end on this narrative, I pray that I too may obtain his blessing.
NotesON THE SAME ST. THEODOSIUS,
From the Spiritual Meadow of John Moschus.
Theodosius, Abbot of Antioch, on the Cliff (S.)
Author: Theodoret.
On the spring granted by God to the brothers of the monastery on the Cliff through the prayers of their Abbot Theodosius.
[1] We came to the monastery of Abbot Theodosius on the Cliff (it is a mountain between Seleucia and Rhosus in Cilicia), and the Fathers of that place led us above the monastery, about the distance of a bowshot, and showed us a very large and beautiful spring, and said to us: "This spring, brothers, is not natural, but was granted to us by God. Ch. 80. For our holy Father Theodosius fasted much, A spring obtained by the prayers of St. Theodosius. shed many tears, and by many prayers and genuflections obtained that God would deign to grant us the comfort and use of this water. For previously our fathers drew water from a torrent; but God, who does the will of those who fear him, by his infinite goodness granted us the blessing of this water through the prayers of our holy Father."
[2] "But two years before this, certain brothers asked the Father of the monastery to build a bathhouse in the monastery. The Abbot bore this with displeasure, but yielded, condescending to the weakness of the brothers. A bathhouse was therefore built in the monastery, and it was used only once, when immediately the great spring that God had granted us dried up. It dries up on account of the bathhouse that was built. And we tell you in truth, O Christians, we fasted much, we prayed much, we made many genuflections to receive water again, but we accomplished nothing. A whole year therefore passed without the water of the spring, and we were in great tribulation. It flows again. But as soon as our good and gentle Father destroyed the bathhouse, God restored the water to us."
On the well filled with water when the image of the same Abbot Theodosius was lowered into it.
[3] The Fathers themselves also told us this, saying: A certain faithful woman in the region of Apamea recently dug a well. Having spent a great deal and endured immense labors, and having dug the well to a great depth without finding water, she was in great sorrow and affliction, both on account of the labor and on account of the expense. Ch. 81. A certain woman appeared to her in a dream while she was thus distressed, saying: "Send to the Cliff The image of Theodosius in the well summons water. and have the image of Abbot Theodosius brought to you, and through him God will grant you water." The woman immediately sent two men from her household and received the image of the Saint. When she lowered it into the well, water immediately flowed, so that half the well was filled. They also brought some of that water to us, and we drank it and glorified God.
How the wheat of the same monastery sprouted because of the cessation of the customary almsgiving.
[4] They also told us this, saying: It was the custom that on Holy Thursday all the poor and orphans of this region would gather here Wheat distributed to the poor on Holy Thursday. and each receive half a sextarius of wheat, thirteen blessings, a sextarius of wine, and half a sextarius of honey. Ch. 85. But three years ago there was a great scarcity of wheat, and wheat was being sold in this region at twelve sextarii for one gold piece. When therefore the days of fasting came, certain Fathers said to our Abbot: "Do not, Lord Father, give wheat to the poor according to custom, lest the monastery run short; for wheat cannot be found." But the Abbot began to say to the Brothers: "Let us not break, my sons, the blessing of our Father Theodosius. See, it is the elder's commandment; it is not expedient for us to transgress it. Truly he is the one who cares for us." But the Brothers persisted in their opinion, saying to the Abbot: "We do not have enough to give." Then the Abbot, saddened, said to them: "Go, and do as you wish." Therefore they did not give the blessing on the holy days of Thursday and Good Friday, as had been customary. What was denied sprouts in the granary. Afterward the overseer who was in charge of the granaries opened the doors and found that all the wheat had sprouted; and so we were forced to throw it into the sea. Then our Abbot began to say to the Brothers: "He who disregards the instructions of our Father suffers these things. Now reap the harvests of disobedience. We were going to give five hundred measures, and we would have pleased our Father Theodosius through obedience, and we would have consoled our brothers the poor. But now we have lost nearly five thousand measures of wheat. What have we gained, my sons? How much have we harmed ourselves? We have done two evils: one, because we transgressed the commandment of our Father; the other, because we placed our hope not in God but in our granary. Let us learn at least from this, Brothers, that it is God who provides for all the human race, and that St. Theodosius invisibly and diligently cares for us, his sons."