The Monk Thalaleos

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".