The Monk Bessarion, Wonderworker of Egypt
Commemorated on June 6
The Monk
Bessarion, Wonderworker of Egypt, by descent an Egyptian, was baptised
while still in his youth and he led a strict life, striving to preserve the
grace given him during Baptism. Seeking to become more closely acquainted with
the monastic life, he undertook a journey to the holy places, – he was in
Jerusalem, he visited the Monk Gerasimos (Comm. 4 March) in the Jordanian
wilderness, he viewed other monastic wilderness-monasteries, and assimilated
all the rules of monastic life. Upon his return, he accepted monastic tonsure
and became a disciple of the Monk Isidor Pelusiotes (Comm. 4 February).
Saint Bessarion took upon himself a vow of silence, he partook of food only
once a week, and sometimes he remained without food or drink for 40 days. There
was an instance when the monk, immersed in prayer, stood motionless for 40 days
and 40 nights without food or sleep.
The Monk Bessarion
received from God the gift of wonderworking: when on a journey his disciple was
strongly beset by thirst, he sweetened bitter water; by his prayer the Lord
sent rain upon the earth, and he could as though on dry land cross a river;
with but a single word he cast out devils, but he did this privately to avoid
glory. His humility was so great, that when one time a priest ordered someone
from the skete settlement to leave church for having fallen into sin, together
with him went also the monk with the words: "I too am a sinner". The
Monk Bessarion slept only standing or sitting. A large portion of the life of
the saint was spent under the open sky in prayerful solitude. He peacefully
expired to the Lord, having reached old age.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.