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Commemorated on February 27
The Monk Thalaleos
lived during the V Century. He was a native of Cilicia (Asia Minor),
accepting monasticism at the monastery of Saint Sava the Sanctified, and was
ordained presbyter there. Later on, having relocated to Syria, not far from the
city of Habala, he found a dilapidated pagan temple surrounded by graves, and
he settled there in a tent. This place had a rough reputation, since the unclean
spirits residing there frightened travellers and caused them much harm.
And here the monk
lived, praying day and night in total solitude. The demons often assailed the
saint, trying to terrify him with sights and sounds. But by the power of God
the monk gained victory over the power of the enemy ultimately, after which he
was troubled no more. The monk then intensified his efforts even more: he built
himself an hut, so very cramped that it was just possible to get into it, and
only with an effort was it possible to keep up his head, and there he dwelt for
about 10 years.
The Lord granted the
ascetic the gift of wonderworking: miracles helped him to enlighten the
surrounding inhabitants, who were pagans. And with the help of the inhabitants
converted by him to Christianity, he demolished the idolous temple, building in
its place a church and bringing into it daily Divine-services. The Monk
Thalaleos died in old age in about the year 460. In the book entitled
"Leimonarion", or "Pratum" ("The Meadow"), –
a composition of the Greek monk John Moskhos (+ 622), – it speaks thus about
the Monk Thalaleos: "Abba Thalaleos was a monk for sixty years and with
tears never ceased saying: God hath given us, brethren, this time for
repentance, and if we perish, we then shalt be severely judged".
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
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