JUNE 06
The holy wonder-worker Bessarion was born in Egypt. From his youth he devoted himself to the spiritual life and took care to preserve the grace of God which he had received in Baptism. Wishing to improve himself and to acquire virtue and holiness, He visited the God-pleasing ascetics of Jerusalem and Palestine. St Gerasimus of the Jordan (March 4) was a major influence on St Bessarion, and he also profited from the instructions of St. Isidore of Pelusium (February 4).
St Bessarion was not slow in putting into practice the knowledge that he had received from the holy Fathers of the Desert. After distributing his wealth to the poor, he received the monastic tonsure and began his ascetic struggles. He had no permanent dwelling place, but wandered through the desert, exhausting his body with fasting, vigil, and prayer. He would never lie down to sleep, but for forty years he only slept while sitting down or standing up. He also wore the same tattered garment in summer and in winter.
Because of the many miracles he performed during his life, St Bessarion is known as a wonder-worker. Once he stood for forty days at prayer, without eating or sleeping; during a drought he made sea water drinkable; he walked on water as if on dry land; he healed the sick, and also performed many other miracles.
He had a peaceful ending to his life, falling asleep in the Lord around 466.
The holy wonder-worker Bessarion was born in Egypt. From his youth he devoted himself to the spiritual life and took care to preserve the grace of God which he had received in Baptism. Wishing to improve himself and to acquire virtue and holiness, He visited the God-pleasing ascetics of Jerusalem and Palestine. St Gerasimus of the Jordan (March 4) was a major influence on St Bessarion, and he also profited from the instructions of St. Isidore of Pelusium (February 4).St Bessarion was not slow in putting into practice the knowledge that he had received from the holy Fathers of the Desert. After distributing his wealth to the poor, he received the monastic tonsure and began his ascetic struggles. He had no permanent dwelling place, but wandered through the desert, exhausting his body with fasting, vigil, and prayer. He would never lie down to sleep, but for forty years he only slept while sitting down or standing up. He also wore the same tattered garment in summer and in winter.
Because of the many miracles he performed during his life, St Bessarion is known as a wonder-worker. Once he stood for forty days at prayer, without eating or sleeping; during a drought he made sea water drinkable; he walked on water as if on dry land; he healed the sick, and also performed many other miracles.
He had a peaceful ending to his life, falling asleep in the Lord around 466.
