The Monk Nicholas the Monastic

Commemorated on December 24

The Monk Nicholas the Monastic was a military commander under the Byzantine emperor Nicephorus I (802-811). He was sent off into a war with the Bulgars. On the eve of battle he was subjected to temptation from a certain woman, but manfully he resisted it. In the blood-spilling of the battle all his comrades perished, but Nicholas remained alive. It was revealed to him in a vision, that his life was spared because he had overcome temptation. After this Blessed Nicholas left the world, settled into a cave, became a schema-monk and prayed unceasingly for soldiers, the fallen and killed. By his great ascetic efforts he so pleased the Lord, that he was granted the gift of perspicacity.